Page 5330 - Week 17 - Thursday, 13 December 1990
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Skin preparations based on mercury have been commonly used as freckle removers. These skin depigmentation preparations will be available on prescription only. Products which do not contain mercury as a fading agent for freckles, sunburn and sallowness may remain available over the counter from pharmacies. Golden Eye Ointment also remains available over the counter. Cough suppressant preparations containing oxolamine will be supplied only on prescription because of some reports on its possible toxicity. Conversely, several products currently available only on prescription will be available without prescription from pharmacies.
The antihistamine terfenadine, available in the ACT under the name Teldane, which is used for the relief of hayfever symptoms, is a new entry in schedule 3 for oral preparations containing not more than 60 milligrams of terfenadine in packs of 20 or less. This means that Teldane will join a number of other antihistamines which can be purchased without prescriptions from pharmacies. Previously it had been in schedule 4 in all States and Territories, except New South Wales, where it was transferred to schedule 3 from 24 August this year. However, all terfenadine preparations other than the ones I mentioned will remain in schedule 4.
Nystatin preparations for the treatment of fungal infections of the skin will be available to be purchased without prescription from pharmacies. Miconazole, in preparations for the treatment of oral candidiasis, joins miconazole preparations for the treatment of fungal infections of the skin in being available without prescription. The analgesic ibuprofen, used for the temporary relief of moderate pain, in preparations containing not more than 200 milligrams or ibuprofen in packs of 50 or less will be available without prescription from pharmacies. At the time of purchase from the pharmacist, appropriate counselling on ibuprofen's use for the relief of pain will be provided. But all other preparations of ibuprofen remain in schedule 4.
Finally, children's mixtures containing paracetamol for the relief of pain and fever have been available from pharmacies only. In order to achieve consistency, all tablets, capsules or granules containing paracetamol as the only active ingredient when labelled for the treatment of children under seven years of age will be available only from pharmacies. I now present the explanatory memorandum for the Bill.
Debate (on motion by Mr Berry) adjourned.
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