Updates on reclassified medicines

Overview

The following forensic classifications describe the three levels of access controls for therapeutic products in Singapore:

  • Prescription Only Medicines (POM): A therapeutic product that can only be obtained from a doctor or a dentist, or from a pharmacist with a prescription from a doctor or a dentist. The condition to be treated needs to be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. It can also have serious side effects which require a doctor's monitoring or follow up.
  • Pharmacy Only Medicines (P)*: A therapeutic product that can be obtained from a pharmacist at a retail pharmacy. The condition is self-limiting and can be assessed and treated by pharmacists.
  • General Sale List (GSL): A therapeutic product that can be freely obtained from any retailer. It can be used safely by the public without medical supervision and intended for short term self-treatment only.

*To ensure adequate safeguard for proper use of medicines, pharmacists are legally required to keep record when dispensing a medicine over-the-counter (OTC). Members of public can facilitate this process by providing the following details when purchasing a medicine from your pharmacist:

  • Name
  • NRIC/FIN (click here for more info on laws requiring collection of NRIC number)
  • Contact details (address/contact number/email)

The following table lists the medicines that have been recently reclassified by us.

Use the Infosearch to determine the updated registration status and forensic classification of specific products

Product name Previous classification Classification Reclassification date
Strepsils (flurbiprofen) Max Pro Direct Spray 8.75mg per dose P GSL 2024/03/19
Calcium Folinate Injection 10mg/ml GSL POM 2024/02/27
Actein (acetylcysteine) Granules 200mg/sachet  P GSL  2024/02/05
JAMP Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate Powder for Suspension 1g/g GSL POM  2024/01/31 
PMS-Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate Powder for Suspension 94.3mg/g and Suspension 15g/60ml
 GSL POM 2024/01/31
Acetylcysteine Sandoz Effervescent Tablets 600mg P GSL  2024/01/26
Difflam For Children Throat Spray P GSL 2023/03/09
Plasma-Lyte A Injection GSL POM  2023/07/03
Panadol (paracetemol/pseudoephedrine HCl)Cold Relief PSE Caplet  GSL  P 2022/02/28
Robitussin (guaiphenesin/pseudoephedrine HCl) PS Syrup  GSL  P  2022/02/28 
Difflam-C Anti-inflammatory Antiseptic Solution P   GSL 2021/10/01
Duro-tuss (bromhexine) Chesty Cough Liquid 12mg/15ml P  GSL  2021/07/05 
Promesec (omeprazole) Gastro-resistant capsules (Pharmacy only) 20mg (SIN16251P ) N.A.  P 2021/06/28
Strepsils (flurbiprofen) Maxpro Honey and Lemon lozenges P GSL 2020/12/18
Xyzal (levocetirizine) Tablet 5mg P POM  2020/10/14
Bifen (ibuprofen) suspension 100mg/5ml P  GSL  2020/01/02
Derm-aid (hydrocortisone) 0.5% cream P GSL  2019/09/13 
Egocort (hydrocortisone) 1% cream P GSL  2019/08/14
Brufen (ibuprofen) suspension (20mg/ml) POM GSL  2019/07/22
Zenpro (omeprazole) 20mg (OTC) (SIN15725P) N.A. P  2019/06/25
Difflam (benzydamine) Anti-bacterial lozenges P GSL 2019/03/12
Allerzal (levocetirizine) F.C Tablet 5mg POM P 2019/01/17
Levozine (levocetirizine) F.C Tablet 5mg POM P 2019/01/17
Mucosolvan (ambroxol) 24 hours capsule 75mg, tablet 30mg and liquid 30mg/5ml P GSL 2018/07/23
Fastum (ketoprofen) gel max 2.5% N.A. GSL 2018/07/11
Mucolix (bromhexine) elixir 4mg/5ml P GSL 2018/06/21
Ibufen (ibuprofen) tablets 200mg POM P 2018/04/04
Strepsils (ambroxol) chesty cough lozenge P GSL 2018/03/01
Maxigesic (paracetamol/ibuprofen) 500/150mg tablet POM  GSL  2018/02/01 
Zyrtec-R (cetirizine) oral solution 1mg/ml N.A. GSL 2018/02/27

 

Healthcare professional, Therapeutic Products
Published:

Reclassified Medicines