Prescription medicines
Find out about prescription medicines and how they are regulated.
A prescription medicine is a medicine that can only be made available to a patient on the written instruction of an authorised health professional. Examples of prescription medicines include blood pressure tablets, cancer medicine and strong painkillers.
All prescription medicines are registered in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) and can be identified by an AUST-R number on the label.
Key information
- For more detailed information on prescription medicines go to Prescription medicines overview.
- For information on obtaining market authorisation go to Supply a prescription medicine.
- For information on manufacture go to Manufacture a medicine.
More information
Latest alerts
- SitagliptinSafety advisory - low levels of contamination with a nitrosamine impurity
Latest articles
- Influenza vaccine batch release for 2022 seasonTGA has released over 95 batches of influenza vaccine, consisting of over 16.8 million doses, for supply in Australia for the 2022 influenza season.
- COVID-19 vaccine provisional determinationsThe TGA has granted a number of provisional determinations in relation to COVID-19 vaccines.
- COVID-19 vaccine: JanssenThe TGA granted provisional approval to Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd (known as Johnson & Johnson overseas) for its COVID-19 vaccine Janssen, making it the third COVID-19 vaccine to receive regulatory approval in Australia.
Latest publications
- Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard) (COVID-19 Vaccine - Pfizer) Labelling Exemption 2021This labelling exemption is granted under section 1.5.5 of Part 2 of the current Poisons Standard
- Infographic - Become an Authorised Prescriber for nicotine vaping productsThis infographic is a printable resource that can be used to communicate the streamlined approval process for medical practitioners.