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Schedule 1 Schedule 1 is blank. Schedule 1 does not currently contain any medicines or poisons.
Schedule 2: Pharmacy Medicine Schedule 2 (S2) drugs and poisons, otherwise known as Pharmacy Medicines, are substances and preparations for therapeutic use that – • are substantially safe in use but where advice or counselling is available if necessary; • are for minor ailments or symptoms that – • can be easily recognised by the consumer and • do not require medical diagnosis or management. Examples: •
Dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant • Simple
analgesics such as
aspirin,
paracetamol,
ibuprofen and
naproxen in packs containing more than 24 tablets (packs containing up to 16 tablets of simple analgesics are unscheduled, and can be sold in any shop) •
Hyoscine, used to treat motion sickness, postoperative nausea and vomiting. •
Nonsedating antihistamines such as
loratadine •
Nasal sprays containing
decongestants or
steroids The SUSMP March 2018 defines a Schedule 2 substance as "Substances, the safe use of which may require advice from a pharmacist and which should be available from a pharmacy or, where a pharmacy service is not available, from a licensed person." The location of these medications in the pharmacy varies from state to state.
Schedule 3: Pharmacist Only Medicine Schedule 3 (S3) drugs and poisons, otherwise known as Pharmacist Only Medicines, are substances and preparations for therapeutic use that – • are substantially safe in use but require professional advice or counselling by a pharmacist; • require pharmacist advice, management, or monitoring; • are for ailments or symptoms that – • can be identified by the consumer and verified by a pharmacist; • do not require medical diagnosis, or only require initial medical diagnosis, and do not require close medical management. Some states have subsets of Schedule 3 with additional requirements (see below). Only some Schedule 3 medicines may be advertised to the public. Examples: •
Orlistat (trade name Xenical) •
Pseudoephedrine (marketed in Cold and Flu preparations) •
Salbutamol (Ventolin/Asmol) • Rikodeine (
dihydrocodeine)
Schedule 4: Prescription Only Medicine Schedule 4 (S4) drugs and poisons, otherwise known as
prescription only medicines, are substances and preparations for therapeutic use that – • require professional medical, dental, or veterinary management or monitoring; • are for ailments or symptoms that require professional medical, dental, or veterinary diagnosis or management; • may require further evaluation for safety or efficacy; • are new therapeutic substances. • cost of the drug is high, or when there is a risk of dependence The price of many Schedule 4 substances are subsidized by the
Australian Government through the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), when prescribed by an authorised prescriber. Certain medications may require an authority from the
PBS. Situations that may require an authority include where the drug may only have benefit in limited conditions, the true cost of the drug is high, or when there is a risk of dependence. Some states have subsets of Schedule 4 with additional requirements (see below). Schedule 4 medicines cannot be advertised directly to the public. Examples: •
Amoxicillin •
Anabolic steroids •
Apomorphine •
Cannabidiol in preparations for therapeutic use containing 2 percent or less of other cannabinoids found in cannabis (since June 2015) •
Cisplatin •
Co-codamol preparations comprising
codeine and paracetamol •
Ephedrine •
Ergotamine •
Estradiol •
Fluticasone •
Ibogaine •
Isotretinoin •
Methoxyflurane •
Pseudoephedrine in large doses •
Salmeterol •
Tramadol •
Tretinoin •
Trimethoprim • All
benzodiazepines except
flunitrazepam and
alprazolam • All: •
SSRIs (e.g.
fluoxetine,
citalopram), •
SNRIs (e.g.
duloxetine,
milnacipran), •
TCAs (e.g.
amitriptyline,
imipramine) •
MAOIs (e.g.
selegiline,
moclobemide). •
Antipsychotic drugs (e.g.
aripiprazole,
quetiapine)
Schedule 5: Caution Schedule 5 (S5) drugs and poisons are substances and preparations that must have appropriate packaging and simple warning labels to display that these poisons: • have low toxicity or a low concentration; • have a low to moderate hazard; • can cause only minor adverse effects to the human being in normal use; • require caution in handling, storage, or use. Examples: •
Ammonia •
Acetic acid (>30%) •
Boric acid • Chlorinating compounds •
Clove oil •
Ivermectin (for use in animals) •
Lidocaine •
Methylated Spirits •
Petrol Some of the above examples are subject to exceptions dependant on the specific preparation, concentration, or inclusion in other schedules.
Schedule 6: Poison Must use distinctive packaging and strong warnings to display the potential for: • moderate to high toxicity; • that may cause death or severe injury if ingested, inhaled, or in contact with the skin or eyes. Examples: •
Arsenic •
Beryllium •
Bromethalin •
Chloroform •
Cyanamide •
Safrole •
Toluene •
Xylene •
Ziram Some of the above examples are subject to exceptions dependant on the specific preparation, concentration, or inclusion in other schedules.
Schedule 7: Dangerous Poison Substances with a high potential for causing harm at low exposure and which: • Require special precautions for manufacture, handling or use; or • Only available to specialised and authorised users with appropriate skills • Special regulations regarding their availability, possession, storage or use may apply Examples: •
Azo Dyes •
Benzene •
Chlorine •
Demeton •
Phosphine •
Vinyl Chloride •
Nicotine Some of the above examples are subject to exceptions dependant on the specific preparation, concentration, or inclusion in other schedules.
Schedule 8: Controlled Drug Schedule 8 (S8) drugs and poisons, otherwise known as Controlled Drugs, are schedule 9 prohibited substances that are appropriate preparations for therapeutic use which have high potential for
abuse and
addiction. The possession of these medications without authority is the same as carrying a prohibited substance and is illegal. Like schedule 4 substances, the price of many Schedule substances are subsidized through the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), some of which may require an authority. In addition, in some states, all drugs on schedule 8 require a doctor to have an S8 permit before prescribing treatment. For example, in
NSW the prescribing of Schedule 8 CNS stimulant medication (e.g.,
methylphenidate,
dexamfetamine) requires authorisation from the NSW Ministry of Health (Pharmaceutical Services) and is generally restricted to specialists, such as paediatricians and psychiatrists. A GP (
General Practitioner) cannot initiate the treatment, although they can prescribe in very limited circumstances, e.g. co-prescribing on behalf of the specialist; and in rural areas, if the patient has been diagnosed with
ADHD, a GP may apply for the authority to prescribe. Patients who may require Schedule 8 CNS stimulant medication should be referred to a specialist for assessment. Examples: • •
Schedule 9: Prohibited Substance Schedule 9 (S9) drugs and poisons are substances and preparations that, by law, may only be used for research purposes. The sale, distribution, use, and manufacture of such substances without a permit is strictly prohibited by law. Permits for research uses on humans must be approved by a recognised
ethics committee on human research. Examples: •
2C-I •
Benzylpiperazine •
Bromo-DragonFLY •
Coca leaf •
DMT •
Harmine/
Harmaline •
Heroin •
Kratom, also known as
Mitragyna speciosa; as well its main alkaloid
Mitragynine •
LSD •
MDPV •
Mephedrone •
Mescaline •
Methaqualone •
Methoxypiperamide •
Salvia divinorum Schedule 10: Substances of such danger to health as to warrant prohibition of sale, supply and use Schedule 10 was known as Appendix C until the introduction of the
Poisons Standard 2015. It includes substances of such danger to health as to warrant prohibition of sale, supply and use. To clarify, the listed substances are not necessarily prohibited completely. Rather, it depends on the concentration of the substance and its associated risk for harm. To illustrate, diethylene glycol is prohibited by law, but at a concentration of 0.25% it is allowed to be an ingredient in toothpaste and mouthwash. Examples are: •
2,4-Dinitrophenol for human use •
Borage for therapeutic use except the fixed oil derived from the seeds of Borago officinalis. •
Coal tar for cosmetic use other than in therapeutic goods. •
Juniperus sabina for therapeutic use •
Oxyphenisatin for therapeutic use
Unscheduled substances Unscheduled substances do not belong to any of the above schedules; these substances may still have restrictions in place from other legislation. Many of these preparations are also sold in supermarkets in addition to pharmacies. Examples: •
Antacids •
Alcohol (ethanol) •
Caffeine •
Ephenidine •
Hydroxymorphinan •
Paracetamol 500 mg in small packs (<24; larger packs are schedule 2) • Some laxatives (e.g. bulk laxatives
Metamucil) • Lubricant eye drops •
Nicotine replacement therapy (some preparations are schedule 2) == Interstate variations ==