THE Advisory Committees on Chemicals and Medicines Scheduling have knocked back an application to reduce the size of OTC ibuprofen, with members saying there was minimal risk of misuse or abuse of the products.
The plan would have seen the maximum pack size reduced from 100 down to 30 dosage units.
Of a total of 17 public submissions relating to the proposal, three were in support of the change while 14 opposed the move.
The committee recommended that the current S2 and S3 entries for ibuprofen remain appropriate, saying there had been no evidence provided of excessive use, purchasing or harm through general sale or Schedule 2 availability of the medication.
MEANWHILE a proposal to downschedule clotrimazol for vaginal use from S3 to S2 was also rejected by the committees.
Orphenadrine compounded with paracetamol was also the subject of an application seeking to create a new S3 entry for the relief of pain associated with skeletal muscle spasm, however the committee recommended that the current S4 scheduling of orphenadrine remains appropriate.
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