Upcoming medicine classification changes
Earlier this year, the Misuse of Drugs (Classification and Presumption of Supply) Order 2022 was passed. Forty-nine substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 (the Act) have been scheduled (or up scheduled) including 5 medicines.
The prescription medicines affected are fentanyl, lisdexamfetamine, tramadol, zopiclone and zolpidem.
The effective dates and new classifications are:
- 15 December 2022: lisdexamfetamine will be scheduled as a Class B2
- 1 July 2023:
- fentanyl will be up scheduled to Class B1 (from Class B3)
- zopiclone and zolpidem will be scheduled as a Class C5
- 1 October 2023: tramadol will be scheduled as a Class C2.
Further details can be found here.