Palliative care drugs added to the Emergency Drug (Doctor’s Bag) Supplies Palliative care drugs added to the Emergency Drug (Doctor’s Bag) Supplies

Two new items, intended for palliative care patients, have been added to the Emergency Drug (Doctor's Bag) section of the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits¹:

• Hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan) injection 20 mg in 1 mL
• Clonazepam (Rivotril) oral liquid 2.5 mg/mL (10 mL)

Under the existing authority listings hyoscine butylbromide injection can be prescribed for colicky pain, and clonazepam for preventing epilepsy, after consultation with a palliative care specialist or service.² The new listings enable emergency use of these drugs for palliative care patients.

For full details of brand names and quantities, refer to the Schedule at www.pbs.gov.au. Click on “Other Browse Options” for the complete lists of Doctor’s Bag items and Palliative Care items.

References

1. Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. March 2008 Positive Recommendations. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, 2008. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/pbacrec-mar08 (accessed 6 June 2008).
2. Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, 2008. http://www.pbs.gov.au (accessed 6 June 2008).