The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has welcomed the decision announced today to down- schedule sumatriptan and zolmitriptan to S3, or pharmacist-only medicines.
Sumatriptan and zolmitriptan are used to treat migraines and the National President of the Pharmacy Guild, George Tambassis, said the decision to down-schedule the medicines was a good outcome for patients.
"Patients don't know when a migraine is coming on and so have had to try to manage their medicines by having a prescription on hand in case they needed to fill it," he said.
"This very sensible decision by the delegate means that patients who have a stable, well-established pattern of symptoms, will be able to access sumatriptan and zolmitriptan for the acute relief of migraine when and where they need it.
"Importantly, being pharmacist-only medicines will ensure that patients receive the counselling and advice to ensure they are taking the medicine appropriately.
"In its decision the TGA pointed to the fact that the 'access controls in place for a Schedule 3 medicine are appropriate and sufficient to mitigate the misuse' of these medicines."
