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Recent research* published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry has lead to another class of medication being confirmed as a risk factor for weight gain, if taken for prolonged periods. The class of medication in question is the antidepressant class, and the research showed that a gain of up to 2kg per year may occur with the treatment. Note that weight gain during antidepressant treatment is not necessarily a bad outcome, if for example loss of weight had occurred prior to starting commencing treatment. Also note that weight gain during antidepressant treatment is not an inevitable outcome,...

A recent article about oils in Australian Doctor Magazine* has prompted an update on this important topic. Everyone is aware of the importance of fat content in the diet, but the detail of what fats/oils are good and what are not, and how much overall can be consumed, is not so straightforward. Most people know to avoid ‘saturated’ fats. ‘Saturated’ is a chemical term referring to the structure of the fat molecule and including fats which are solid at room temperature such as butter and other animal derived fats. In contrast, ‘unsaturated’ fats the ‘fats’ derived from vegetable and marine...

Life threatening meningitis can result from infection with the A, B or C types of the highly pathogenic Meningococcus bacterium. Fortunately, a combination vaccination is available for all three in the form of Mencevax® vaccine. Although effective, Mencevax is primarily for travelers as the vaccine does not provide long lasting immunity. Children have for some years now been routinely vaccinated with a long lasting vaccine for Meningococcal type C (NeisVac C ®, which has now been incorporated into a combined vaccine with a different name), and until now the type C vaccine was the only long lasting Meningococcal vaccine available....

Feeling confident that you’ve found the ‘right’ psychologist to effectively guide you through your stress, anxiety or other mental health concerns can sometimes be a challenge! It might take several sessions before you feel that the therapeutic relationship has ‘clicked’. Asking a prospective psychologist for the opportunity to briefly meet and/or talk before consultations begin may help to foster initial confidence. The Australian Psychological Society, which is not a compulsory organisation for psychologists to join, has a useful ‘Find a Psychologist’ tool. The tool allows you to enter up to three ‘issues’ and nominate a radius around your postcode. The...

A health warning has been issued by the South Australian government over the use of wet wipes, which have triggered quite serious allergic skin reactions in certain individuals. Such reactions are referred to as ‘dermatitis’. The ingredient identified as the cause of the dermatitis is Methylisothiazolinone (‘MI’), which is used a preservative in the wipes. It may also be found in personal hygiene products such as baby wipes, moisturisers and cosmetics. Certain paints and glues may also contain it. Dermatitis can be treated with oral medication and creams, plus of course removal of the cause once identified. Liberal applications of...

Safety of the contraceptive pill is again being questioned, sparked by the news that an Adelaide based law firm may be launching a class action on behalf of women taking the combined contraceptive pill who have suffered from deep venous thrombosis (clots in the legs). The action may be against a pharmaceutical manufacturer of one of these pills. The fact is that all combined oral contraceptive pills increase the risk of deep venous thrombosis (‘DVT’) by an overall factor of three to four times the risk (ie if not taking the pill), as determined by a recent Cochrane review of...

Dear Patients Hampton & South Medical Centre has moved to new commercial premises in Hampton.  We are next to Espresso Lane Coffee Shop and within 50m of the Sandringham bound side of Hampton Railway Station. If you find Hampton Community Centre, which is at the corner of Willis Lane and Willis St, head down towards the Station and you’ll find us. The  large car park at the rear of Safeway in Hampton is adjacent to the clinic. The clinic was previously located at the corner of Hampton St and South Rd in Brighton. Further information: The phone number ie 9521...