Pharmacy alprazolam alert
October 28, 2013
Pharmacies are being warned
of an increased demand for
alprazolam (Xanax and its generic
equivalents) in the lead-up to
its rescheduling as S8, which
will become effective from the
beginning of February 2014.
According to an update from
the Victorian Department of
Health, the publicity around the
rescheduling is likely to see more
of the drug requested, both by
“those who have been using it
appropriately in addition to those
who have been misusing, abusing
and diverting it”.
Alprazolam is currently the
S4 poison most subject to the
presentation of forged scripts,
and pharmacies are being advised
to immediately implement the
verification procedures for S8
poisons, to detect and deter
unlawful attempts to obtain it.
The department said that when
temazepam capsules were at peak
levels of abuse and misuse, ram
raids of community pharmacies
were frequently reported, with
pharmacists advised to “review
current storage locations for
alprazolam so that members
of the public in the pharmacy
cannot readily determine where
alprazolam preparations are located
or that stock levels are sufficient
to invite incursions by potential
offenders”.
Once alprazolam becomes a
Schedule 8 poison, all existing
stocks must be stored in a
compliant safe or drug cabinet, and
prescribing will become subject to
requirements for S8 permits.
It’s anticipated that the level
of prescribing of alprazolam will
diminish, because permits are
unlikely to be issued for other than
medical conditions for which the
use of alprazolam is appropriately
indicated.
A stern warning has also been
given about patients who might
attempt to obtain multiple repeats
or too-frequent supplies of
alprazolam in order to accumulate
personal stocks.
“Pharmacists should be aware
that those who accommodate
such requests might be required to
justify their actions to the Coroner,
the Pharmacy Board and/or to the
Department of Health.”
Pfizer has confirmed that it will
withdraw all strengths of the
branded Xanax product from 01
December (PD Fri) due to the
rescheduling meaning that it’s
no longer commercially viable in
Australia.
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