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
- Antibiotics shortage update and substitution allowed to address shortage of cefaclorWe continue to monitor antibiotic medicines in shortage and are seeking and prioritising applications for overseas alternatives to assist with supply.
- Substitution allowed to address shortage of phenoxymethylpenicillinTo help manage the shortage of the antibiotic phenoxymethylpenicillin (Penicillin V), we have made a Serious Scarcity Substitution Instrument (SSSI).
- Tenecteplase (Metalyse) shortage shelf-life extension expandedA 12-month shelf-life extension is now in place for all batches with an original expiry date from January 2022 to March 2025.
Latest articles
- Product Information safety updates - April and May 2023Medicines Safety Update - Information for health professionals
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Events and webinars
Latest publications
- Pharmacovigilance Inspection Program metrics report: Jan - Dec 2021The TGA Pharmacovigilance Inspection Program (PVIP) metrics report for 2021 is now available.
- Manufacturing principles for medicinal productsPIC/S Guide to Good Manufacturing Practice for Medicinal Products
- SGLT2 inhibitors approved for T2DM onlyMedicines Safety Update - Information for health professionals