Cold reschedule on the table
April 28, 2010
THE National Drugs and Poisons
Schedule Committee will at its next
meeting consider the rescheduling
of 22 over the counter cough and
cold medicines, with proposals that
they be Schedule 4 when used in
children aged under six.
The plan would also see the
remedies as S3 for kids aged 6-11
and S2 for 11-12 year olds, with
affected medications including
antihistamines, antitussives,
mucolytics/expectorants and
decongestants.
The June meeting agenda, which
is now online at www.tga.gov.au,
also reveals that the committee will
consider the appropriateness of the
current Schedule 2 rating for
ibuprofen-paracetamol
combination products.
The committee will also look at
the possibility of rescheduling
alprazolam (Xanax) from its current
S4 rating to Schedule 8, as well as
the consideration of scheduling for
mucolytic agent ambroxol,
including a proposed new S2 entry.
The agenda also includes
consideration of the rescheduling of
low dose aspirin preparations from
unscheduled to Schedule 3 when
indicated for the inhibition of blood
clotting and to reduce the risk of
cardiovascular disease - which
would see these products move off
supermarket shelves.
Other issues up for consideration
at the June meeting include the
consideration of scheduling for new
prescription medications including
C1 esterase inhibitor, clofarabine,
saxagliptin and vorinostat.
The committee will also consider
the scheduling of triclosan,
including a proposal that it be
scheduled with a concentration cutoff
when used as a preservative in
cosmetic preparations.
Also on the agenda is lignocaine,
following a policy direction that
Schedules 2 and 3 are not to be
used to control access to veterinary
medicines - with the only known
products captured by the S2
lignocaine listing indicated
exclusively for veterinary use.
The NDPSC meeting will be held
22-23 Jun and related submissions
must be received no later than 26
May to ndpsc@health.gov.au.
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