PBS subsidy arrangements for fluoxetine 10 mg capsules SSSI

Page last updated: 1 February 2024

The Department of Health and Aged Care has made amendments to the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) (Pharmacist Substitution of Medicines without Prescription during Shortages) Determination 2021. This is following the issuance of the Therapeutic Goods (Serious Scarcity and Substitutable Medicine) (fluoxetine) Instrument 2023, which will allow pharmacists to supply different form of oral fluoxetine at equivalent dose for the duration of the shortage provided specified conditions are met.

Advice for dispensing under SSSI arrangement:

• If the substitutable medicine is for an authority approved prescription, the PBS Online warnings (reason code 162 or 163) can be disregarded in this circumstance.
• If the required quantity is more than the listed maximum quantity, the authority prescription number '00000246' should be used.
• The PBS Online warning (reason code 151) can be disregarded in this circumstance.
• A new script will be required from 1 February 2024 onwards for fluoxetine 10 mg capsules to be dispensed and subsidised on the PBS.

Further information about the substitution is available on the PBS Medicine Shortages page.