METHADONE-AFT (Methadone)

methadone hydrochloride 5 mg tablet, 20 · ORAL · PBS code 15377H

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What it costs

AU$3.06 PBS-determined price per 20 units

Most patients pay only the standard PBS co-payment, not the full price above — up to AU$25.00 per script (general) or AU$7.70 (concession/Safety Net) in 2026. The figure above is what the PBS pays the pharmacy; the Australian Government subsidises the rest. Always confirm the current amount with your pharmacist.

• First listed on the PBS: 2026-07-01.
• Repeats: 0.
• PBS program: GE.

Eligibility criteria for subsidised access

The following is the government's own wording from the PBS Schedule, shown unchanged.

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 1

Chronic severe disabling pain

Initial PBS treatment after 1 June 2020 where patient has been treated with opioids for less than 12 months

The condition must require daily, continuous, long term opioid treatment; AND

Patient must not be opioid naive; AND

Patient must have cancer pain; or

Patient must have had or would have inadequate pain management with maximum tolerated doses of non-opioid and other opioid analgesics; or

Patient must be unable to use non-opioid and other opioid analgesics due to contraindications or intolerance; AND

Must be treated by a health practitioner who is any of: (i) a medical practitioner, (ii) an authorised PBS prescriber who is not a medical practitioner, but who is: (a) sharing care of the patient with at least one medical practitioner; (b) intending to share care of the patient with a medical practitioner.

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 2

Authorities for increased maximum quantities and/or repeats under this restriction must only be considered for chronic severe disabling pain where the total duration of non-PBS and PBS opioid analgesic treatment is less than 12 months.

Authority requests extending treatment duration up to 1 month may be requested through the Online PBS Authorities system or by calling Services Australia.

Authority requests extending treatment duration beyond 1 month may be requested through the Online PBS Authorities system or in writing and must not provide a treatment duration exceeding 3 months (quantity sufficient for up to 1 month treatment and sufficient repeats).

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 1

Chronic severe disabling pain

Initial PBS treatment after 1 June 2020 where patient has been treated with opioids for more than 12 months

The condition must require daily, continuous, long term opioid treatment; AND

Patient must not be opioid naive; AND

Patient must have cancer pain; or

Patient must have had or would have inadequate pain management with maximum tolerated doses of non-opioid and other opioid analgesics; or

Patient must be unable to use non-opioid and other opioid analgesics due to contraindications or intolerance; AND

Palliative care nurses may conduct annual review under this item for the treatment of palliative care patients only.

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 2

Authorities for increased maximum quantities and/or repeats must only be considered for chronic severe disabling pain where the total duration of non-PBS and PBS opioid analgesic treatment:

(i) exceeds 12 months and the palliative care patient is unable to have annual pain management review due to their clinical condition; or

(ii) exceeds 12 months and the patient's clinical need for continuing opioid treatment has been confirmed through consultation with the patient by another medical practitioner or a palliative care nurse practitioner in the past 12 months; or

(iii) has exceeded 12 months prior to 1 June 2020 and the patient's clinical need for continuing opioid treatment has not been confirmed through consultation with the patient by another medical practitioner or a palliative care nurse practitioner in the past 12 months, but is planned in the next 3 months.

Authority requests extending treatment duration up to 1 month may be requested through the Online PBS Authorities system or by calling Services Australia.

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 1

Chronic severe disabling pain

Continuing PBS treatment after 1 June 2020

Patient must have previously received PBS-subsidised treatment with this form of this drug for this condition after 1 June 2020; AND

Palliative care nurses may conduct annual review under this item for the treatment of palliative care patients only.

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 2

Authorities for increased maximum quantities and/or repeats must only be considered for chronic severe disabling pain where the patient has received initial authority approval and the total duration of non-PBS and PBS opioid analgesic treatment:

(i) is less than 12 months; or

(ii) exceeds 12 months and the palliative care patient is unable to have annual pain management review due to their clinical condition; or

(iii) exceeds 12 months and the patient's clinical need for continuing opioid treatment has been confirmed through consultation with the patient by another medical practitioner or a palliative care nurse practitioner in the past 12 months; or

(iv) has exceeded 12 months prior to 1 June 2020 and the patient's pain management and clinical need for continuing opioid treatment has not been confirmed through consultation with the patient by another medical practitioner or a palliative care nurse practitioner in the past 12 months, but is planned in the next 3 months.

Authority requests extending treatment duration up to 1 month may be requested through the Online PBS Authorities system or by calling Services Australia.

Sponsor: AFT Pharmaceuticals (AU) Pty Ltd ABN 29 105 636 413

Not medical advice. Voxsanity republishes public PBS data in plain English. PBS listing status and criteria can change; always confirm current subsidised availability with your doctor or pharmacist.

Source: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), © Commonwealth of Australia. Data used and redistributed under permission; not modified from its original wording where displayed verbatim.