Complementary medicines
Complementary medicines include complementary medicine ingredients such as vitamin, mineral, herbal material, aromatherapy and homoeopathic preparations. They are non-prescription medicines and are also known as alternative medicines.
Complementary medicines are non-prescription medicines. They are medicines that primarily contain complementary medicine ingredients that have an established identity and tradition of use. Examples of complementary medicine ingredients are:
- vitamins
- minerals
- plant material
- nutritional substances
- essential oils
- microorganisms
- animal material.
Most complementary medicines are included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) as listed medicines.
Latest alerts
- Medicines containing Garcinia gummi-gutta (Garcinia cambogia) or hydroxycitric acid (HCA)We have become aware of an increasing number of cases of liver injury reported in scientific literature, by consumers who had taken products containing Garcinia gummi-gutta.
- Compounded colic preparations containing Atropa belladonnaThe TGA has received reports of serious adverse events in infants and children who have been given compounded wind and colic preparations containing Atropa belladonna (belladonna).
- Dark Horse capsulesDark Horse Capsules pose a serious risk to your health and should not be taken.
Latest articles
- GMP surveillance inspections and extended validity of TGA GMP certificatesInformation for manufacturers and sponsors regarding a new method for GMP inspections that will be used from 1 July 2024 and the extended validity of TGA issued GMP Certificates.
- Update to listed medicine ingredients in June 2024Find out how listed medicine ingredients and requirements for their use have been updated in the Therapeutic Goods (Permissible Ingredients) Determination (No. 2) 2024, which commenced on 14 June 2024.
Updated guidelines for Assessed listed medicinesThe Assessed listed medicine evidence guidelines have been updated, based on feedback, to aid sponsors in preparing their product applications.
Latest publications
- Compositional guidelines finalised prior to May 2011About compositional guidelines for ingredients permitted for use in listed medicines.
- Completing a designation or determination extension application form in TGA Business ServicesA step-by-step guide for prescription medicines
- ACCM meeting statement, Meeting 17, 23 May 2017Advisory Committee on Complementary Medicines Meeting 17 meeting statement