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Buprenorphine

boodha

Bluelighter
Joined
Jan 26, 2005
Messages
151
Location
deep darkest africa
I have been looking into the legality of travelling into australia, with a prescription for buprenorphine.

and im a little shocked, unless i have it wrong, it seems that, even if you were legally prescribed this medication, due to it's scheduling it would be illegal, you would need to apply for an import permit with the TGA or something, it just seems a little crazy to me i mean this is a medicine that people are prescribed,

does anyone have info concerning this ? maybe I'm missing something, I had always believed if it was medicine and you had a prescription for it, it would be excluded from prohibition.
 
http://www.indro-online.de/australi.htm is a good guide. each state has their own regulations.

for example, here are Queenslands :

Queensland:

Foreign visitors can be treated with methadone if the following requirements are met:

1. Under usual circumstances, at least 30 days notice of intention to transfer is required. The patient's doctor should contact the Senior Policy Officer (methadone) to discuss the transfer.
2. A letter from the patient's methadone prescriber containing the following details should be sent to the Senior Policy Officer (Methadone):

* the name and address of the person travelling;
* a recent photograph of the patient;
* the dates of arrival in and departure from Queensland;
* all Queensland stopover points;
* the daily dose of methadone syrup;
* relevant clinical information (e.g. duration of current treatment and general treatment progress).

3. Once the above information is received the Senior Policy Officer will contact a treatment agency in the appropriate area/s and advise the patient's methadone prescriber of the arrangements.


Contact details:

Senior Advisor (Opioid Treatment Program)
Drugs of Dependence Unit
Preventative Health Directorate
Division of the Chief Health Officer
Queensland Health
Locked Bag 21
Fortitude Valley BC QLD 4006
Australia
Phone: +61 7 3328 9807
Fax: +61 7 3328 9821
(Contact details last updated November 26, 2009)

Methadone Clinic:

Biala Methadone Clinic
6th Floor
270 Roma Street
Brisbane 4000
Australia
Phone : +61-7-32384080
Fax : +61-7-32361348

Hours Monday - Froday 9am - 4.40pm
Large Public Methadone Clinic (600 clients) staffed by specialist Medical and Nursing personnel. Clients are dosed at a community pharmacy close to where they live. The pharmacists charge a dispensing fee of around AUST $ 2 - 3.

here are the ACT's :

Australian Capital Territory (ACT):

1. Provide information to the Methadone/Buprenorphine Clinic:

Any person seeking methadone/buprenorphine treatment whilst visiting Canberra should request that their home prescriber send a letter, by post, to the Canberra Public Methadone/Buprenorphine Clinic containing the following information:

* Identification details, i.e. date of birth, photograph and/or brief description of person;
* ACT address whilst visiting Canberra;
* Current dose of methadone/buprenorphine
* Date of last dose of methadone/buprenorphine;
* Days that methadone/buprenorphine dosing will be required;
* Any significant intercurrent medical condition that may effect their treatment (e.g. Hep C, HIV/AIDS);
* Whether or not the patient has been receiving take home doses of methadone/buprenorphine; and
* Whether or not an interpreter will be required and the language.

2. Appointment with Medical Officer

Prior to the person commencing on methadone/buprenorphine in Canberra he/she will be required to see a medical officer authorised to prescribe methadone/buprenorphine in Canberra. Therefore details on the expected date of arrival should be faxed to the Canberra Public Methadone/Buprenorphine Clinic, as soon as practical, so that an appointment can be made with a medical officer. It is preferable that at least two weeks notice be given of the expected date of arrival. The details of the appointment (time, date and venue) will be confirmed via a return fax.

3. Presenting to the Clinic:

On presentation to the Clinic for the appointment with the medical Officer the patient should bring at least two forms of identification, one of which should include a photograph. Doctors are only available during business hours, that is 9 am - 5 pm Monday to Friday.
The address of the clinic is:

Methadone/Buprenorphine Clinic
Building 7
The Canberra Hospital
Palmer Street
Garran ACT 2606
Phone: +61 2 6205 4545
(24 hour contact line)
Fax: +61 2 6207 9977
(contact details last updated April 20, 2004)
For further info on opioid replacement treatments in the ACT area contact:

Amy Faden
Alcohol and Drug Program
ACT Health
Phone: +61 2 6244 2591
 
so it seems you cannot get given a prescription(from the outside country) to last your stay in australia and that you have to get transferred to an australian program for your stay,
 
I personally cant help you on this one. But in lew of any replys relating to Buprenorphine specifically and taking into account your dependance, you might be best to shoot a pm to fortehlulz.

He seems to be rather knowledgeable on these subjects regarding legality.

Good luck
 
Yeah basically boodha you have a couple of options:

Organise a transfer to an Aussie pharmacotherapy program for the length of your stay

OR

Have a chat to your GP and see if you can get a prescription for an analagous drug that is not so restricted. For example - you might be able to transfer to methadone and then get a prescription for Physeptone (methadone) tablets. You could then bring in your supply of prescription physeptone tablets no probs. I understand transferring from bupe to methadone is less than preferable - then you have to transfer back when you get home again!
 
people on pescribed Beup and Methadone should also be aware that you can travel interstate (around Australia) if you have takeaway medication to last your trip.

However all Drug and Alcohol services require at least a months notice for planned holidays as scripts can only be written for the state in which you are recieveing treatment. so for example if you lived in melbourne and were traveling to sydney, it is very likely you would need to see a doctor in sydney to write you a script.
 
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