Purple Pen Podcast

To celebrate a full decade on air, current hosts Kristin Xenos and Natalie Tasker are joined by the podcast's original hosts and creators, Jane Booth and Dan Guidone, for a special bonus episode.

Together, the four of them look back at where it all began — the origins of Purple Pen Podcast, the philosophies that have shaped it over the years, and some of their favourite highlights along the way.

Whether you've been with us since episode one or have just found the show, this is a fun, nostalgic look at how Purple Pen Podcast came to be — and where it's headed next.

In this episode:

• How Jane and Dan first came up with the idea for the podcast

• The show's founding philosophy and how it's evolved

• Memorable moments and favorite episodes from the past 10 years

Thank you for ten incredible years — here's to many more!

In this episode we celebrate our ten‑year podcast anniversary with guest Angus Thompson, a consulting clinical pharmacist and clinical editor who works across Southern Tasmania. We open with a quick roll call of the B‑group vitamins to set the scene before shifting into the main focus of the conversation: how Vitamin B6 became a ubiquitous ingredient in sleep products, menopause supplements, energy blends, magnesium powders and everyday multivitamins.

Angus explains why B6 deficiency is relatively uncommon, why it still appears in so many products, and how recommended daily intakes are exceeded in many supplements. We discuss what B6 is actually indicated for, the most common forms found in supplements, and why assumptions about "water‑soluble vitamins being harmless" have not held up in practice. The heart of the episode looks at B6 toxicity and its link to peripheral neuropathy, what symptoms clinicians should look for, how it's diagnosed, potential for long term harm, and why many patients don't realise their supplements could be contributing.

We also talk through the TGA's strengthened safety controls announced in November 2025 and whether recent media coverage has helped or confused the public conversation.

Further information can be found here:

• Stronger safety controls to be introduced for products containing vitamin B6: https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/stronger-safety-controls-be-introduced-products-containing-vitamin-b6 Scientific opinion on the tolerable upper intake level for vitamin B6: https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8006

• Peripheral Neuropathy - A Review: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2841552

• Australian and New Zealand Nutrient Reference values: https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrient-reference-values/nutrients/vitamin-b6

• Vitamin B6 Fact Sheet for Health Professionals: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB6-HealthProfessional/

• https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2025/august/pyridoxine-toxicity-from-over-the-counter-suppleme

In this episode, Kristin sits down with Melbourne-based community pharmacist Anna Theophilos, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia's inaugural Vaccination Ambassador, for a deep dive into the world of pharmacist-led injectable medicines administration.

Anna brings her expertise on everything from injection technique to patient hesitancy, offering practical insight for pharmacists looking to build confidence and consistency in this growing area of practice.

In this episode, Kristin and Anna discuss:

• The role of pharmacists and the pharmacy workforce in facilitating injectable medicines administration — whether that's giving injections directly or supporting patients to safely self-administer

• Where the current gaps are, and what the safety data actually tells us

• Addressing vaccine hesitancy and the pharmacist's role in administering vaccines and other injectables

• Making the most of opportunistic travel health consultations, including on-the-spot vaccination

• Demystifying injection technique and equipment selection — getting the medicine where it needs to go for the patient in front of you

• Supporting patients before and after administration

• The opportunity to create a more consistent vaccination experience across pharmacies nationwide

• Managing and preventing vaccine administration-related adverse effects

• Navigating vaccination schedules and planning for multiple vaccines on the same day, plus reliable (and reassuring) sources of information

• Approaching challenging conversations around safe injectable use by staying patient-centred, curious, and non-judgemental

Connect with Anna: Follow Anna on Instagram: @thevaccinationpharmacist

In this episode, Professor Nicholas Lintzeris joins us to discuss where LAIB fits in contemporary opioid dependence treatment, how it compares with methadone and sublingual buprenorphine, and which patients are most likely to benefit. We also explore practical aspects of initiation, dosing, administration, management of adverse effects, and common misconceptions surrounding depot buprenorphine therapy.

Sublocade, will be removed from Australian markets at the end of 2026 . Made by US-based pharmaceutical company Indivior, the medication is one of two long-acting, slow-release buprenorphine injections on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for opioid dependence treatment. Buvidal, remains available on the PBS.

Further reading and resources

• https://theconversation.com/buvidal-is-it-really-a-game-changer-in-the-treatment-of-problematic-opioid-use-214895

• NSW Guideline - https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/aod/resources/Pages/laib.aspx

In this episode, Dr Evan Tseros, Otolaryngologist, Head & Neck Surgeon, joins us to discuss the different types of otitis media, how to distinguish it from conditions such as otitis externa and eustachian tube dysfunction, and the assessment of otalgia, including important causes of referred ear pain. We also explore current management recommendations, the role of antibiotics, key red flags, and practical safety-netting advice for pharmacists.

Further reading and resources:

Royal Children's Hospital https://www.rch.org.au/clinicalguide/guideline_index/acute_otitis_media/

Clinical Practice Guideline: Otitis Media with Effusion (Update) - American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS)

https://dontforgetthebubbles.com/otitis-media/

PPP 194 – Sport and Exercise Pharmacy with Alison Hooper

In this episode, pharmacist and former physiotherapist Alison Hooper joins us to discuss the expanding role of pharmacists in sport, exercise, and active living

We cover:

• How pharmacists can support movement, exercise, and sport
• Injury management and common sports-related conditions
• Managing chronic conditions in active people
• Exercise-induced asthma
• Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs)
• WADA and anti-doping regulations
• Accidental doping risks from supplements
• RICER vs PEACE & LOVE for injury management
• The latest evidence on NSAIDs in sport
• Whether you're working with elite athletes or helping patients stay active, this episode highlights the important role pharmacists play in supporting safe participation in sport and exercise.

Further Reading and Resources Links

• Understanding pharmacists' engagement in sport and exercise medicine, including pharmacist-physiotherapist collaboration: A qualitative study and COM-B analysis. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667276625000344
• WADA website: Raising the game for clean sport | World Anti Doping Agency
• WADA Prohibited List: 2025list_en_final_clean_12_september_2024.pdf
• Sport Integrity Australia: Protecting Sport Together | Sport Integrity Australia
• Sports Integrity Australia Sports Pharmacy eLearning Course: New Sports Pharmacy eLearning Course Launched
• Global Drug Reference Online: Global DRO - Home
• Sports Integrity Australia 'Check Your Substances' (links to Global DRO) Check Substances On Global DRO | Sport Integrity Australia
• Informed Sport (Supplement Batch Testing): Sports Supplements Certification | Informed Sport
• HASTA (Supplement Certification and Testing): Home - HASTA
• US Sports Pharmacy Group: U.S. Sports Pharmacy Group
• Sports Pharmacy Network: Sports Pharmacy Network

To align with NAIDOC week this year we have a special bonus episode.

In this episode, we speak with Dr Jessica Buck about childhood cancer in First Nations people, genomics, and the importance of cultural safety in healthcare and research. A proud Kamilaroi woman, she is the Team Leader of the First Nations Childhood Cancer Program at The Kids Research Institute Australia — a first-of-its-kind initiative dedicated to developing culturally safe, community-led research strategies to improve outcomes for First Nations children with cancer.

Together, we explore how a First Nations perspective can strengthen biomedical science and improve care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families affected by cancer.

We cover:

• What culturally safe healthcare and research look like in practice

• Applying a First Nations lens to genomics and biomedical science

• How historical harms in healthcare and research continue to influence trust today

• Childhood cancer outcomes for First Nations children

• The impact of geography, access to care, racism and broader inequities

• Why representation in genomic databases and clinical trials matters

• The clinical implications of underrepresentation for diagnosis and treatment

• The potential role of pharmacogenomics in cancer care

• Treatment-related adverse effects

• Opportunities to improve equity in childhood cancer care

Further reading and resources:

• Clark (Adnyamathanha), J.R., Buck (Kamilaroi), J., Richards-Satour (Adnyamathanha and Barngarla), A., Lyons (Jaadwa), L. and Brown (Yuin), A. (2024), Towards precision cancer medicine for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer health equity. Med J Aust, 221: 68-73. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.52346 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.5694/mja2.52346

• Alexandra Truong, Kayla Williams‐Tucker (Ngarluma, Wongutha, Wudjari Noongar), Ahmi Narkle (Whadjuk Goreng Noongar), Eden Slicer (Gundungurra), Jessica‐Elise Chapman (Kamilaroi, Bundjalung), Jessica Lawler, Rishi S Kotecha, Hetal Dholaria, Justine R Clark (Adnyamathanha), Alex Brown (Yuin), Raelene Endersby, Nicholas G Gottardo and Jessica Buck (Kamilaroi) - Current gaps in knowledge and future research directions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with cancer - https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2025/222/10/current-gaps-knowledge-and-future-research-directions-aboriginal-and-torres

• The Kids Research Institute Australia https://www.thekids.org.au/our-research/chronic-diseases/first-nations-childhood-cancer/

• Zero Childhood Cancer https://www.zerochildhoodcancer.org.au/

• Henrietta Lacks: science must right a historical wrong - https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02494-z

A note on the artwork for this episode: "Cancer 2025"

Shaznaye Bin-Kali, is a Kija and Yawuru Jij from Broome, W.A. She is 15 years old. She was diagnosed with brain cancer at six months old and experienced her first seizure at the age of one, which led to her first operation. This painting represents the spread of her brain cancer. The lines surrounding it symbolise her very first seizure, an important moment in my journey. Through her art, she shares her story, resilience, and connection to her culture.

Note: NAIDOC stands for the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. It aims to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Gastroenterologist and three-time guest Dr Kostas Brooks returns for a discussion on colonoscopy, bowel cancer screening, and best practice care in Australia.

In this episode, we cover:

Home bowel cancer screening

• The role of home-based faecal occult blood tests in early detection

• How the program works in practice

• What best practice looks like in screening and surveillance

Bowel preparation for colonoscopy

• Why there is no single standard bowel preparation protocol

• Practical tips to support patients to achieve optimal preparation

• Key considerations for medicines before and after colonoscopy

What happens during a colonoscopy

• Step-by-step overview of the procedure

• Emerging role of artificial intelligence in detection and diagnosis

Colorectal cancer in Australia

• Prevalence and key risk factors

• Who is most at risk and why

• What happens next after a positive colonoscopy finding

Further reading

• Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care - Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard - https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/clinical-care-standards/colonoscopy

• National Bowel Cancer Screening Program - https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/national-bowel-cancer-screening-program?language=en

• Bowel Cancer Australia - Red Apple Day - https://redappleday.au/

In this episode of Myopia Progression and the Role of Atropine in Managing Myopia, we speak with Dr Loren Rose about one of the fastest growing challenges in children's eye health. We explore emmetropisation, the natural process by which a child's eyes develop towards clear vision, and what happens myopia. Dr Rose explains key concepts including hyperopic reserve, what a dioptre actually measures, and why both genetics and environment play important roles in myopia development. We discuss the influential Taiwan studies showing that spending around two hours outdoors each day can help reduce the risk of myopia, as well as the evidence linking prolonged near work and screen use with increasing rates of short-sightedness. We discuss the role of atropine drops and peripheral defocus lenses.

Further reading

• Rose LVT. The quest for safe and effective myopia control in children. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2024 Jul;52(5):503-504. doi: 10.1111/ceo.14391. PMID: 38950909. - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38950909/
• Optometry Australia Position Statement on Myopia Management - https://www.optometry.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Professional_support/Guidelines/Myopia-Position-Statement-2024-v3.pdf
• https://www.optometry.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/Documents/Myopia-management-resource-guide.pdf

In this episode, we're joined by Dr Mariya Farah Kitson, Consultant Rheumatologist at the Osteoporosis Refracture Prevention Clinic at Royal North Shore Hospital, for a deep dive into the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis. We explore why osteoporosis remains significantly underdiagnosed, current recommendations for bone mineral density (BMD) screening, and the ongoing osteoporosis care gap that leaves many patients untreated after fragility fractures. Dr Kitson also explains the role of secondary fracture prevention services and why menopause represents a particularly high-risk period for accelerated bone loss and fracture risk in women.

The conversation also unpacks the evolving treatment landscape for osteoporosis, including discussions around denosumab, its PBS and other indications, and important considerations regarding duration of therapy and rebound vertebral fracture risk following discontinuation. Dr Kitson compares the mechanisms of action of denosumab and bisphosphonates, outlines current recommendations for safely stopping denosumab, and discusses where newer therapies such as romosozumab fit into contemporary osteoporosis care. We also touch on the emerging role of biomarkers in fracture risk assessment and treatment monitoring, offering listeners an up-to-date and clinically relevant overview of osteoporosis management.

Further Links

ASBMR - The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research - https://www.asbmr.org/Default.aspx

International Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.osteoporosis.foundation/