Note: Drugs funded under the Highly Specialised Drugs Program provide a
subsidy for community patients only. Inpatients remain the responsibility
of the treating hospital.
Drug |
Date Subsidised |
PBAC
Clinical Indications and other Restrictions |
Abacavir Sulfate (Ziagen)
|
1 October 1999
Amended 1 February 2004 |
Treatment of HIV infection in patients with:
(a) CD4 cell counts of less than 500 per cubic millimetre; or
(b) viral load of greater than 10,000 copies per mL. |
Abacavir Sulfate
with Lamivudine (Kivexa) |
1 December 2005 |
Treatment of HIV infection in patients over 12 years
of age, weighing 40kg or more, with:
(a) CD4 cell counts of less than 500 per cubic millimetre; or
(b) viral load of greater than 10,000 copies per mL. |
Abacavir Sulfate
with Lamivudine and Zidovudine (Trizivir)
|
1 November 2001
Amended 1 February 2004 |
Treatment of HIV infection in patients over 12 years
of age, weighing 40kg or more, with:
(a) CD4 cell counts of less than 500 per cubic millimetre; or
(b) viral load of greater than 10,000 copies per mL. |
Abatacept (Orencia) |
1 March 2008 |
This drug needs prior approval by Medicare Australia.
More information and forms are available at www.medicare.gov.au/provider/pbs/drugs/index.shtml
Abatacept - Treatment for adults patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (pdf, 102kb) |
| Adefovir Dipivoxil
(Hepsera) |
1 December 2004
Amended 1 April 2006
Amended 1 April 2007
Amended 1 March 2008
Amended 1 July 2008 |
Chronic hepatitis B in a patient who has failed antihepadnaviral therapy and who satisfies all of the following criteria:
(1) (a) Repeatedly elevated serum ALT levels while on concurrent antihepadnaviral therapy of greater than or equal to 6 months duration in conjunction with documented chronic hepatitis B infection; or
(b) Repeatedly elevated HBV DNA levels one log greater than the nadir value or failure to achieve a one log reduction in HBV DNA within 3 months, whilst on previous antihepadnaviral therapy except in patients with evidence of poor compliance;
(2) Female patients of child-bearing age are not pregnant, not breast-feeding, and are using an effective form of contraception.
Persons with Child's class B or C cirrhosis (ascites, variceal bleeding, encephalopathy, albumin less than 30 g per L, bilirubin greater than 30 micromoles per L) should have their treatment discussed with a transplant unit prior to initiating therapy.
NOTE:
Patients should have undergone a liver biopsy at some point since initial diagnosis to obtain histological evidence of chronic hepatitis.
Patients may receive treatment in combination with lamivudine but not with other PBS-subsidised antihepadnaviral therapy. |
Apomorphine
Hydrochloride (Apomine)
|
1 Mar 1996
Price Change 1 January 2001 |
Parkinson's disease in patients severely disabled by motor fluctuations
which do not respond to other therapy. |
| Atazanavir Sulfate
(Reyataz) |
1 December 2004 |
Treatment, in combination with 2 or more other antiretroviral
drugs, of HIV infection in patients with:
(a) CD4 cell counts of less than 500 per cubic millimetre; or
(b) viral load of greater than 10,000 copies per mL. |
Azithromycin
(Zithromax)
|
1 December 1997 |
Prophylaxis against Mycobacterium avium complex infections
in HIV positive patients with CD4 cell counts of less than 75per cubic
millilitre.
|
Baclofen (Lioresal
Intrathecal)
|
Amended 1 February 2003 |
Severe chronic spasticity, where oral antispastic agents
have failed or have caused unacceptable side effects, in patients with
chronic spasticity:
(1) of cerebral origin; or
(2) due to multiple sclerosis; or
(3) due to spinal cord injury; or
(4) due to spinal cord disease. |
