Restriction on the Supply of Dexamfetamine, Lisdexamfetamine, and Methylphenidate—Approval to Prescribe, Supply and Administer (Approval No. RI21900002-00)
This notice comes into effect on 1 February 2026.
Pursuant to Regulation 22 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977, I, Chris James, Group Manager, Medsafe, Ministry of Health, acting under delegated authority from the Minister of Health, hereby make the following approval:
That dexamfetamine (a controlled drug described by clause 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975), lisdexamfetamine, and methylphenidate (controlled drugs described in Part 2 of Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975) may be prescribed or administered by the classes of person described, and in the circumstances set out in the Schedule.
I hereby revoke the following approvals:
In this Schedule:
initiation of prescribing means to diagnose a patient, either personally or in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team, as having a specified condition and to personally prescribe or provide a written recommendation to another prescriber to prescribe, methylphenidate, dexamfetamine or lisdexamfetamine for the treatment of that condition
ongoing prescribing means to prescribe methylphenidate, dexamfetamine, or lisdexamfetamine for the treatment of a specified condition based on the written recommendation from a specified prescriber
medical practitioner means a medical practitioner registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 and holding a current annual practising certificate
nurse practitioner means a nurse practitioner registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and holding a current annual practising certificate.
From 1 February 2026:
At the determination of any of the classes of persons specified in this schedule, who are authorised to initiate prescribing, a written recommendation may limit the medical practitioner or nurse practitioner (ongoing prescriber) to:
For any recommendation written after 1 February 2026 without limitations specified, the ongoing prescriber may interpret the written recommendation as referring to treatment with any combination of dexamfetamine, lisdexamfetamine, and methylphenidate at a dose and formulation to be decided by the ongoing prescriber.
The following classes of persons, in the following circumstances, may prescribe dexamfetamine, lisdexamfetamine, and methylphenidate products for a patient under their care for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):
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Prescribing Settings |
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Patient Age |
Initiation of Prescribing |
Ongoing Prescribing |
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17 years and under |
Medical practitioners with a vocational scope of practice of paediatrics or psychiatry. |
Any medical practitioner or nurse practitioner may prescribe when acting on the written recommendation of one of the practitioners who have initiated prescribing. |
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Nurse practitioners practising within their area of practice of paediatric services or child and adolescent mental health services. |
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18 years and above |
Medical practitioners with a vocational scope of practice of paediatrics, psychiatry, or general practice. |
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Nurse practitioners working within their area of practice may. |
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The following classes of persons may prescribe dexamfetamine and methylphenidate products for a patient under their care for the treatment of narcolepsy:
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Prescribing Settings |
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Patient Age |
Initiation of Prescribing |
Ongoing Prescribing |
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Any age |
Medical practitioners with a vocational scope of practice of internal medicine. |
Any medical practitioner or nurse practitioner may prescribe when acting on the written recommendation of one of the practitioners who have initiated prescribing. |
The following classes of persons may prescribe methylphenidate products for a patient under their care for use in palliative care treatment.
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Prescribing Settings |
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Patient Age |
Initiation of Prescribing |
Ongoing Prescribing |
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Any age |
Medical practitioners with a vocational scope of practice of palliative medicine. |
Any medical practitioner or nurse practitioner may prescribe when acting on the written recommendation of one of the practitioners who have initiated prescribing. |
From 1 February 2026:
The following class of persons may supply dexamfetamine, lisdexamfetamine, and methylphenidate products in the following circumstances:
Any pharmacist registered with the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand and holding a current annual practicing certificate under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, in the course of their employment as a pharmacist, pursuant to a prescription issued by:
From 1 February 2026:
Any person who is caring for a patient, for whom a dexamfetamine, lisdexamfetamine, or methylphenidate product has been prescribed by any of the medical practitioners or nurse practitioners, described in this Schedule, may administer the product to that patient in accordance with the prescribed directions for use.
Date of Commencement: 1 February 2026.
Dated at Wellington this 19th day of June 2025.
CHRIS JAMES, Group Manager, Medsafe, Ministry of Health.