Published: 4 October 2018
Committees
Comments on agenda items for the 61st meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee to be held on 2 November 2018
The Medicines Classification Committee and the Secretary wish to thank everyone for their valuable input and feedback on all agenda items.
A total of 21 submissions commenting on agenda items for the 61st meeting were received (PDF, 4.27MB, 108 pages). Some submissions commented on more than one agenda item. One submission has been withheld from publication for reasons described under clause 2b of the Official Information Act 1982.
Agenda item 5.1.1 Reclassification of modified release paracetamol – objection to the proposed recommendation that modified release paracetamol be reclassified from a pharmacy-only medicine to a restricted medicine.
Seven comments were received about the objection to the recommendation made at the 60th meeting about the reclassification of modified release paracetamol. Three comments supported the recommendation to reclassify modified release paracetamol to a restricted medicine. Four comments supported retaining the current classification as a pharmacy-only medicine.
Agenda item 5.3 Referred submission from the 60th meeting – agenda item 6.4 melatonin – proposed reclassification from prescription medicine to a restricted medicine
Eight comments were received about the referred submission from the 60th meeting for the proposed reclassification of melatonin from a prescription medicine to a restricted medicine. Two comments supported the reclassification. Four comments opposed the reclassification. Two comments did not state a preference for classification.
Agenda item 6.1 Melatonin prolonged release 2 mg tablets – proposed reclassification from prescription medicine to prescription except when classification
Ten comments were received about the proposed reclassification of melatonin prolonged release 2 mg tablets from a prescription medicine to ‘prescription except when’. Eight comments supported the reclassification. Two comments did not state a preference for classification. There were no comments received in opposition to this proposed reclassification.
The currently approved indication for Circadin is: ‘monotherapy for the short term treatment of primary insomnia characterized by poor quality of sleep in patients who are aged 55 years or over’. The data sheet for Circadin is published on the Medsafe website (www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/c/circadintab.pdf).
Agenda item 6.2 Dextromethorphan, opium tincture, squill oxymel and pholcodine – proposed reclassification from general sale and pharmacy only medicines to restricted medicines
Thirteen comments were received about the proposed reclassification of dextromethorphan, opium tincture, squill oxymel and pholcodine from general sale and pharmacy only medicines to restricted medicines.
Dextromethorphan
Eleven comments were received about the proposed reclassification of dextromethorphan to a restricted medicine. Four comments supported the reclassification. Five comments opposed the reclassification. One comment supported reclassifying to a pharmacy medicine but not a restricted medicine. One comment did not state a preference for classification.
Opium tincture
Six comments were received about the proposed reclassification of opium tincture to a restricted medicine. Five comments supported the reclassification. One comment opposed the reclassification.
Squill oxymel
Seven comments were received about the proposed reclassification of squill oxymel to a restricted medicine. Five comments supported the reclassification. Two comments opposed the reclassification.
Pholcodine
Eight comments were received about the proposed reclassification to a restricted medicine. Two comments supported the reclassification. Six comments opposed the reclassification.
Agenda item 8.21a Stenabolic SR9009 and other synthetic REV-ERB agonists and agenda item 8.21b Ibutamoren
One comment was received about stenabolic SR909 and other synthetic REV-ERV agonists, and ibutamoren. One comment supported classifying these substances to regulate their availability.
