These commonly used medications, including antibiotics, antidepressants, pain killers and cancer drugs, shouldn’t run out or suddenly become too expensive. See the list.
Like the weather, house prices and “cozzie livs” (cost of living, not a swimwear revival as I first thought), drug shortages are now part of the conversations you find yourself having in queues.
Did you hear that rain last night? Can’t believe that house on the corner went for $2mil. I hear the chemist won’t have [X] on the shelves till at least July… 2026.
There is a system that’s intended to ensure at least some brands of drugs – dubbed designated brands – won’t be the subject of community group Facebook posts asking neighbours for their leftover supply.
Australian suppliers have to keep a minimum stockholding of certain medications, mainly for treating the most common conditions. There are also conditions put on the frequency and rate of price rises.
The list is updated twice a year – October and April. Inclusions are either new additions since the last update (1 October 2023), new designated brands as of 1 April following disclosure of price reduction, and brands that are already designated and will be subject six-month stockholding from a future date, following a price increase.
Here’s the latest:
Antibiotics
Amoxicillin: Capsule 500mg (as trihydrate), from 1 December 2023, four months.
Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid: Tablet containing 875mg amoxicillin (as trihydrate) with 125mg clavulanic acid (as potassium clavulanate), from 1 December 2023, four months.
Azithromycin: Powder for oral suspension 125mg (as monohydrate) per 5mL, 100mL and 250ml (as monohydrate) per 5mL, 75mL, from 1 April 2024, four months.
Cefaclor: Powder for oral suspension 125mg (as monohydrate) per 5mL, 100mL and 250mg (as monohydrate) per 5mL, 75mL, from 1 April 2024, four months.
Tobramycin: Injection 80mg (as sulfate) in 2mL (without preservative). Already a designated brand prior to determination under s99ADHC(2) coming into effect on 1 October 2024. Four-month stockholding to 30 September 2024, six-month stockholding thereafter.
Blood pressure and heart medications (including statins)
Atorvastatin: Tablet 10, 20, 40, 80mg (as calcium), from 1 November 2023, four months.
Ezetimibe with simvastatin: Tablet 10mg-10mg/ 10mg-20mg/ 10-40/ 10-80, from 1 November 2023, four months.
Fenofibrate: Tablet 145mg, from 1 March 2024, four months.
Amlodipine with valsartan: Tablet 10mg (as besilate) 160mg & 320mg, Tablet 5mg/160, /320, /80 and various other formulations, from 1 November 2023, four months.
Lercanidipine: Tablet containing lercanidipine hydrochloride 10 & 20mg, from 1 March 2024, four months.
Clopidogrel: Tablet 75mg (as hydrogen sulfate), from 1 December 2023, four months.
Irbesartan: Tablet 75, 150, 300mg, from 1 April 2024, four months.
Olmesartan: Tablet containing olmesartan medoxomil 20 & 40mg, from 1 December 2023, four months.
Olmesartan with amlodipine: Tablet containing olmesartan medoxomil 20mg with amlodipine 5mg (as besilate), from 1 December 2023, four months.
Ramipril: Tablet 1.25mg, from 1 January 2024, four months.
Allergy and Respiratory
Salbutamol: Nebuliser solution 2.5mg (as sulfate) in 2.5mL single dose units, 20 (S19A), from 1 February 2024, four months.
Methylprednisolone: Injection containing methylprednisolone acetate 40mg in 1mL. Already a designated brand prior to determination under s99ADHC(2) coming into effect on 1 October 2024. Four-month stockholding to 30 September 2024, six-month stockholding thereafter.
Methylprednisolone: Powder for injection 40mg (as sodium succinate) (S19A), from 1 November 2023, four months.
Modafinil: Tablet 100mg, from 1 March 2024, four months.
Anti-inflammatories
Diclofenac: Tablet (enteric coated) containing diclofenac sodium 25mg & 50mg, from 1 April 2024, four months.
Ibuprofen: Tablet 400mg, from 1 November 2023, four months.
Meloxicam: Tablet 7.5mg, from 1 December 2023, four months.
Other pain relief
Pregabalin: Capsule 25, 75, 150, 300mg, from 1 December 2023, four months.
Nausea & Vomiting
Metoclopramide: Injection containing 10mg metoclopramide hydrochloride (as monohydrate) in 2mL. Four-month stockholding from 1 January 2024 to 31 January 2024, six-month stockholding from 1 August 2024. Designated brand from 1 August 2024 as the result of a determination under s99ADHC(2).
Anticonvulsant
Pregabalin: Capsule 150mg, from 1 December 2023, four months.
Mental health
Escitalopram: Tablet 10mg & 20mg (as oxalate), from 1 March 2024, four months.
Fluoxetine: Capsule 10mg (Medreich) (S19A), from 1 February 2024, four months.
Aripiprazole: Tablet 10, 15, 20 & 30mg, from 1 February 2024, four months.
Chlorpromazine: Tablet containing chlorpromazine hydrochloride 25mg. Was previously a designated brand prior to receiving a price increase. Becomes a designated brand again effective 1 June 2024 when a determination under s99ADHC(2) is effective. Four-month stockholding to 30 November 2023, six-month stockholding from 1 June 2024.
Olanzapine: Tablet 5, 7.5, 10, 15 & 20mg (orally disintegrating), from 1 December 2023, four months.
Pantoprazole: Tablet (enteric coated) 40mg (as sodium sesquihydrate), from 1 March 2024, four months.
Periciazine: Tablet 2.5mg. Was previously a designated brand prior to receiving a price increase. Becomes a designated brand again effective 1 June 2024 when a determination under s99ADHC(2) is effective. Four-month stockholding to 30 November 2023, six-month stockholding from 1 June 2024.
Quetiapine: Tablet 25, 100, 200, 300mg (as fumarate), from 1 March 2024, four months.
Diabetes
Metformin: Tablet containing metformin hydrochloride, from 1 December 2023, four months.
Methylprednisolone: Injection containing methylprednisolone acetate 40mg in 1mL. Already a designated brand prior to determination under s99ADHC(2) coming into effect on 1 October 2024. Four-month stockholding to 30 September 2024, six-month stockholding thereafter.
Methylprednisolone: Powder for injection 40mg (as sodium succinate) (S19A), from 1 November 2023, four months.
Gastrointestinal
Esomeprazole: Tablet (enteric coated) 20 & 40mg (as magnesium trihydrate), from 1 January 2024, four months.
Pantoprazole: Tablet (enteric coated) 20 & 40mg (as sodium sesquihydrate), from 1 March 2024, four months.
Methylprednisolone Injection containing methylprednisolone acetate 40mg in 1mL. Already a designated brand prior to determination under s99ADHC(2) coming into effect on 1 October 2024. Four-month stockholding to 30 September 2024, six-month stockholding thereafter.
Methylprednisolone: Powder for injection 40mg (as sodium succinate) (S19A), from 1 November 2023, four months.
Rheumatic disorders
Methylprednisolone: Injection containing methylprednisolone acetate 40mg in 1mL. Already a designated brand prior to determination under s99ADHC(2) coming into effect on 1 October 2024. Four-month stockholding to 30 September 2024, six-month stockholding thereafter.
Methylprednisolone: Powder for injection 40mg (as sodium succinate) (S19A), from 1 November 2023, four months.
Mycophenolic acid: Tablet (enteric coated) containing mycophenolate sodium equivalent to 180 & 360mg mycophenolic acid, from 1 February 2024, four months.
Mycophenolic acid: Tablet (enteric coated) containing mycophenolate sodium equivalent to 360mg mycophenolic acid, from 1 December 2023, four months.
Riluzole: Oral suspension 50mg per 10mL, 300mL. Four-month stockholding to 30 September 2024, six-month stockholding thereafter. Already a designated brand prior to determination under s99ADHC(2) coming into effect on 1 October 2024.
Dermatology
Methylprednisolone: Injection containing methylprednisolone acetate 40mg in 1mL. Already a designated brand prior to determination under s99ADHC(2) coming into effect on 1 October 2024. Four-month stockholding to 30 September 2024, six-month stockholding thereafter.
Methylprednisolone: Powder for injection 40mg (as sodium succinate) (S19A), from 1 November 2023, four months.
Eye conditions
Methylprednisolone: Injection containing methylprednisolone acetate 40mg in 1mL. Already a designated brand prior to determination under s99ADHC(2) coming into effect on 1 October 2024. Four-month stockholding to 30 September 2024, six-month stockholding thereafter.
Methylprednisolone: Powder for injection 40mg (as sodium succinate) (S19A), from 1 November 2023, four months.
Modafinil: Tablet 100mg, from 1 March 2024, four months.
Paraffin Eye ointment: Compound, containing white soft paraffin with liquid paraffin, 3.5g, from 1 April 2024, four months.
Paraffin with retinol palmitate eye ointment: Compound, containing liquid paraffin, light liquid paraffin, wool fat, white soft paraffin and retinol palmitate, 5g, from 1 October 2023, four months.
HIV/PrEP
Abacavir with lamivudine: Tablet containing abacavir 600mg (as sulfate) with lamivudine 300mg, from 1 January 2024, four months.
Nevirapine: Tablet 200mg, from 1 December 2023, four months.
Tenofovir: Tablet containing tenofovir disoproxil maleate 300mg, from 1 February 2024, four months.
Tenofovir with emtricitabine: Tablet containing tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300mg with emtricitabine 200mg, from 1 April 2024, four months.
Liver (hep B)
Mycophenolic acid: Tablet (enteric coated) containing mycophenolate sodium equivalent to 180 & 360mg mycophenolic acid, from 1 February 2024, four months.
Mycophenolic acid: Tablet (enteric coated) containing mycophenolate sodium equivalent to 360mg mycophenolic acid, from 1 December 2023, four months.
Mycophenolic acid: Tablet containing mycophenolate mofetil 500mg, from 1 April 2024, four months.
Endocrine Disorders
Methylprednisolone: Injection containing methylprednisolone acetate 40mg in 1mL. Already a designated brand prior to determination under s99ADHC(2) coming into effect on 1 October 2024. Four-month stockholding to 30 September 2024. Six-month stockholding thereafter.
Methylprednisolone: Powder for injection 40mg (as sodium succinate) (S19A), from 1 November 2023, four months.
Cancer drugs
Imatinib: Tablet 100 & 400mg (as mesilate), from 1 April 2024, four months.
Irinotecan: Injection containing irinotecan hydrochloride trihydrate 100mg in 5mL, from 1 November 2023, four months.
Methylprednisolone Injection containing methylprednisolone acetate 40mg in 1mL. Already a designated brand prior to determination under s99ADHC(2) coming into effect on 1 October 2024. Four-month stockholding to 30 September 2024, six-month stockholding thereafter.
Methylprednisolone: Powder for injection 40mg (as sodium succinate) (S19A), from 1 November 2023, four months.
Metoclopramide: Injection containing 10mg metoclopramide hydrochloride (as monohydrate) in 2mL. Four-month stockholding from 1 January 2024 to 31 January 2024, six-month stockholding from 1 August 2024. Designated brand from 1 August 2024 as the result of a determination under s99ADHC(2).
Trastuzumab: Powder for I.V. infusion 60mg, 150mg & 420mg, from 1 April 2024, four months.
Trastuzumab: Powder for I.V. infusion 440mg with diluent, from 1 April 2024, four months.
Trastuzumab: Solution for subcutaneous injection containing trastuzumab 600mg in 5mL, from 1 April 2024, four months.
