Information on the availability of pain-killers containing dextropropoxyphene

1 March 2012

The Therapeutics Goods Authority (TGA) announced in December 2011 that the registration of all pain-killers containing dextropropoxyphene will be cancelled. As a consequence the Department of Veterans' Affairs has withdrawn RPBS item 4081T dextropropoxyphene napsylate (Doloxene(r)) from 1 March 2012. The Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule will be updated to reflect this from 1 April 2012. The Department of Veterans' Affairs has contacted current prescribers to advise of listed alternatives. There are no pain-killers containing dextropropoxyphene listed on the PBS.