NZ melatonin reclassification

PHARMACISTS in New Zealand will be able to supply melatonin tablets up to 3mg in strength without a prescription, under new arrangements which have reclassified the medication from “prescription only” to “prescription except when”.

Conditions for the pharmacist supply require that the melatonin be dispensed “for the treatment of primary insomnia for adults aged 55 years or older for up to 13 weeks,” and that the pharmacist be registered in New Zealand and have completed training required by the Pharmacy Council and the Pharmaceutical Society of NZ.

The move was recommended late last year by NZ’s Medsafe Medicines Classification Committee, and was last week ratified by the Minister’s Delegate.

The new NZ classification for melatonin is “prescription except when supplied in medicines for oral use containing 3mg or less per immediate release dose unit, or 2mg or less per modified release dose unit, when sold in the manufacturer’s original pack”.

Currently the only approved medicine containing melatonin in NZ is Circadin, supplied by Aspen Pharmacare.

Although the new arrangements are effective immediately, the requisite courses for pharmacists to dispense melatonin are still under development, with a screening tool which will help determine whether patients are eligible.

The training is expected to be available by Sep this year.