Current prescribing patterns   of bupropion in Australia

Doran, Christopher M; Shakeshaft, Anthony P; Gates, Jennifer A; Fawcett, Julia E; Mattick, Richard P

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04708.x

Topics

To the Editor: Bupropion hydrochloride was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) on 1 February 2001 for use as short-term adjunctive therapy for high nicotine dependence, with the goal of maintaining abstinence. Supply is limited to one application per year, with no repeats, and a maximum quantity of 120 tablets at a dispensed cost of $238.95.

Correspondence: c.doran@unsw.edu.au

1. PBS expenditure and prescriptions February 2001 to December 2001. Canberra: Department of Health and Aged Care, 2002. Available at <http://www.hic.gov.au/statistics/dyn_pbs/forms/pbs_tab1.shtml
2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Health expenditure bulletin no. 17: Australia's health services expenditure to 1999–00. Canberra: AIHW, 2001. (Catalogue No. HWE 18; Health and Welfare expenditure series No. 12.)
3. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 1998 National drug strategy household survey: first results. Canberra: AIHW, 1999. (AIHW Catalogue No. PHE 15; Drug Statistics Series.)
4. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian population by age and sex, Australian States and Territories. Drug Statistics Series. Canberra: ABS, 2001. (Catalogue no. 3201.0.)
5. Robertson J, Fryer JL, O'Connell DL, et al. Limitations of Health Insurance Commission (HIC) data for deriving prescribing indicators. Med J Aust 2002; 176: 419-424. <MJA full text>

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