Australian Assessments Of Neuropathic Drugs

  Today's interesting post comes from nps.org.au (see link below) and is a list of medications used to treat neuropathy in Australia . The TGA mentioned here is the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration and the letters PBS stand for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Also the term 'streamlined authority' means medicines are prescribed for specific conditions and do not need prior approval from the Department of Human Services or the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Instead the process is streamlined by providing a four digit streamlined authority code. What's interesting is the way certain drugs for neuropathy are regarded in different parts of the world.
It may be worth checking what you take against how the Australians assess their worth - it may not always be the same as in your region. That begs the question why and may stimulate further research on your part. There is a seperate assessment of Lyrica (pregabalin) at the beginning of the list (see live link) and this may also be of interest because as we know, Pfizer (manufacturers) withdrew approval of its own drug Lyrica for Diabetes and HIV-related neuropathies in May this year (2012) and yet it is still widely prescribed for both forms of neuropathy. If you yourself know of other differences in national approvals or rejections for drugs used to treat neuropathy, please use the contact button to let us know. Knowledge is strength and we must be sure we are being treated safely and responsibly for neuropathic symptoms.
 

Prescribing drugs for adults with neuropathic pain: TGA approval status and PBS listing restrictions.
Date published : 6 December 2012

Additional content — Pregabalin (Lyrica) for neuropathic pain


Prescribing drugs for adults with neuropathic pain: TGA approval status and PBS listing restrictions (December 2012)

Drug (Brand)	TGA-approved indication	PBS listing restriction
Antidepressants
Amitriptyline (Endep)	Not TGA approved for neuropathic pain	Unrestricted
Duloxetine (Cymbalta), Nortriptyline (Allegron) Venlafaxine (Efexor)	Not TGA approved for neuropathic pain	Major depressive disorders (Restricted benefit)
Anticonvulsants
Pregabalin (Lyrica)	Neuropathic pain in adults; 18 years +	Refractory neuropathic pain (Streamlined authority)
Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Teril)	Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia due to multiple sclerosis, idiopathic glossopharyngeal neuralgia	Unrestricted
Gabapentin (Gabahexal, Gabaran, Gantin, Neurontin, Nupentin, Pendine)	Neuropathic pain in adults; 18 years +	Epilepsy (Streamlined authority) Refractory neuropathic pain not controlled by other drugs (RPBS authority listing only)
Lamotrigine (Elmendos, Lamictal, Lamidus, Lamitrin, Lamogine, Seaze)	Not TGA approved for neuropathic pain	Epilepsy (Streamlined authority)
Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)	Not TGA approved for neuropathic pain	Epilepsy (Streamlined authority)
Phenytoin (Dilantin)	Not TGA approved for neuropathic pain	Unrestricted
Opioid analgesics (including tramadol)
Morphine (Anamorph, Kapanol, MS Contin, MS Mono, Ordine)	Moderate to severe acute or chronic pain	Immediate-release preparations (e.g. oral liquid, tablet): severe disabling pain not responding to non-narcotic analgesics (Restricted benefit).   Controlled-release preparations (e.g. tablet, capsule, granules): chronic severe disabling pain not responding to non-narcotic analgesics (Restricted benefit).
Oxycodone (Endone, OxyContin, OxyNorm)	Short-term treatment of acute pain, when aspirin and/or paracetamol alone are inappropriate or have failed (Restricted benefit)
Tramadol (Durotram, Tramahexal, Tramal, Tramedo, Zydol)	Moderate to severe pain	Short-term treatment of acute pain, when aspirin and/or paracetamol alone are inappropriate or have failed (Restricted benefit)
Topical preparations
Capsaicin 0.075% (Zostrix HP)	Diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia	Not applicable (unscheduled)
Lignocaine (Xylocaine)	Not TGA approved for neuropathic pain	Not applicable (Schedule 2)

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http://www.nps.org.au/publications/health-professional/nps-radar/2012/december-2012/web-extras/web-extra/web-extra-prescribing-drugs-for-adults-with-neuropathic-pain-tga-approval-status-and-PBS-listing-restrictions