Australian Sleeping Pills Guide: PBS & Pharmacy Options

TGA Regulation Notice: In Australia, sleeping medications are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Many require a prescription, while some are available as Pharmacy Only (S3) medicines.

Medication Type Active Ingredient Availability Prescription Strength Price Range Notes
Restavit OTC Antihistamine Doxylamine Pharmacy only (S3) No Moderate $$ Popular pharmacy choice
Dozile OTC Antihistamine Doxylamine Pharmacy only (S3) No Moderate $$ Night-time formula
Circadin Prescription Melatonin Melatonin Prescription only (S4) Yes Moderate $$$ PBS listed for 55+
Stilnox Prescription Zolpidem Controlled Drug (S4) Yes Strong $$$ Restricted prescribing

PBS Guidelines

  • Medicare and PBS coverage
  • Authority prescriptions
  • Quantity restrictions
  • Regular reviews required
  • Safety net thresholds

Pharmacy Access

  • S3 medications available
  • Pharmacist consultation required
  • Recording requirements
  • Age restrictions
  • Purchase limits

Australian Regulatory Framework

TGA Classifications

  • Schedule 4 (Prescription Only)
  • Schedule 3 (Pharmacist Only)
  • Schedule 2 (Pharmacy Only)
  • Unscheduled medicines
  • Complementary medicines

Safety Measures

  • Real-time monitoring
  • Doctor shopping prevention
  • Quantity limitations
  • Safety warnings required
  • Adverse event reporting