Regulatory Issues
Benzodiazepines to be Controlled Drugs
From 1 January 1999 all benzodiazepines will become controlled drugs under Part V of the Third Schedule of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 (Class C, part 5).
In 1990 New Zealand ratified the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971. In order to comply with obligations under the Convention, New Zealand must enforce tighter controls on benzodiazepines. Following consultation, the Ministry of Health recommended that benzodiazepines be included in the Misuse of Drugs Act thereby tightening controls over distribution and countering illicit use and supply. Medsafe will monitor annual consumption and supply this information to the International Narcotics Control Board.
Doctors will still prescribe benzodiazepines on a standard prescription form, use the standard PSO form, and the Pharmaceutical Schedule will still restrict reimbursement to one month’s supply per prescription form. Benzodiazepines will only be able to be prescribed for the treatment of drug dependence by doctors working in gazetted drug clinics, doctors authorised in writing by a drug clinic doctor, or doctors who have been gazetted for the purpose of drug treatment. There will be no other specific restrictions on prescribing for other clinical indications.
Pharmacists do not have to store benzodiazepines in their controlled drug safe nor are they required to record dispensings in a controlled drug register.
Please note that the Ministry advice to prescribers is still that benzodiazepines when used as hypnotics or tranquillisers should be prescribed for the shortest possible term. Continuous use should not exceed two to four weeks.
Commonly used benzodiazepines include:
| Generic Name | Trade Name | Generic Name | Trade Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| alprazolam | Xanax | midazolam | Hypnovel |
| clobazam | Frisium | nitrazepam | Insoma, Nitrados |
| clonazepam | Rivotril | oxazepam | Ox-Pam, Serepax, Benzotran |
| diazepam | D-Pam, Propam, Diazemuls, Stesolid Rectal |
temazepam | Normison, Somapam, Euhypnos |
| lorazepam | Ativan, Lorapam, Lorzem | triazolam | Halcion, Hypam, Trycam |
| lormetazepam | Noctamid |