Ketamine is now a Controlled Drug !?!

A reminder that from 1 December 2010 ketamine is a Class C4 (Schedule 3 Part 4) controlled drug.

Buprenorphine legal requirements for prescribing and dispensing

Buprenorphine is a Class C4 controlled drug – see Schedule 3 Part 4 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Prescribing: Buprenorphine is included with a small group of Class C CDs that have to be prescribed on the H572 controlled drug prescription form – see Misuse of Drugs Regulations 29(1)(a)(ii).

Restrictions on sale of codeine-containing meds

Restrictions on the Sale of Codeine-Containing Medicines

Further to the warning-of-change notice sent to you in June, the medicine classification of codeine-containing combination medicines changed today (4 October 2010).  Products for the relief of pain such as Panadeine and Nurofen Plus are now pharmacist-only medicines, and then only in approved small pack sizes.  Large pack sizes and repacks are now prescription medicines.

New law for Driving under the influence of drugs

From next week (1 November 2009) it will be an offence to drive a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs – including prescription medicines.  Note that the offence is to drive while impaired.  Driving having ingested a medicine that may impair driving is not an offence. An offence is only created if driving is impaired such that it comes to the attention of the police.