Relief is on the way for Kiwis struggling with insomnia and treatment-resistant depression, with Medsafe approving the sale of over-the-counter melatonin and the prescription of medicinal psilocybin.
Melatonin – used to treat insomnia and jet lag – would be available for purchase in pharmacies without a prescription in due course.
The medicine has previously been tightly restricted in New Zealand. Currently, only a handful of melatonin products were approved for people aged over 55.
“Many New Zealanders have asked me why people can buy melatonin overseas but they can’t buy it from their local pharmacy. Medsafe has assessed this and decided there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be available on pharmacy shelves right here at home,” Associate Health Minister David Seymour said.
The prescription of medicinal psilocybin outside of clinical trials is a first for New Zealand. (Source: 1News)
“In time, adults will be able to buy melatonin directly from a pharmacy with no prescription needed. This is a common sense decision that will make melatonin more accessible in New Zealand than in many other countries and encourage suppliers [to] bring more products to our shelves.”
Melatonin would remain prescription-only for children and adolescents, following expert clinical advice to ensure proper oversight when used by younger patients.
For the first time in New Zealand, Medsafe has also approved the prescribing of medicinal psilocybin outside of clinical trials, Seymour said.
Also known as magic mushrooms, psilocybin was a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in more than 100 species of mushrooms.
While psilocybin would remain as an unapproved medicine, a psychiatrist with prior experience prescribing magic mushrooms in clinical trials has been granted authority to prescribe it to patients with treatment-resistant depression.
The prescriptions would be under strict reporting and record-keeping requirements.
Seymour said the decision is “huge for people with depression who’ve tried everything else and are still suffering”.
“If a doctor believes psilocybin can help, they should have the tools to try.”
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The move brought New Zealand in line with Australia, where “authorised prescribers have been using psilocybin in clinical settings for some time”.
“Kiwis shouldn’t be left counting sheep or desperate for options when other countries are already using these medicines,” Seymour said. “The Government is committed to putting patients first.”