How to access Sodium Oxybate in Australia
- Michelle Chadwick
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
and why is Sodium Oxybate is not TGA registered (approved) or PBS listed?
Update – November 2025
The supply arrangements for Xyrem® (sodium oxybate) in Australia have recently changed. UCB Pharma, the company that has been importing and supplying Xyrem® under the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) Special Access Scheme (SAS), has confirmed that they can no longer continue supply due to global distribution changes made by the manufacturer, Jazz Pharmaceuticals.
To prevent treatment disruption, MedSurge Healthcare has taken over responsibility for supply and distribution of sodium oxybate in Australia under the same SAS access pathway.
The product now being supplied is a generic brand of sodium oxybate, not Xyrem®.
A TGA application has been submitted by Reach Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd to register a generic sodium oxybate in Australia. If approved, this may improve access and affordability in the future. We will update this post when more information becomes available.
For more details on what has happened and what this means for individuals and prescribers, read our full update here.
If you’ve noticed any side effects or how the generic sodium oxybate works for you, please complete our short feedback form. https://forms.gle/znS8oEP4pwgef8rx8
What is Sodium Oxybate Sodium oxybate is a sodium salt of gamma-hydroxybutyrate - sometimes referred to as GHB. GHB is a naturally occurring neurotransmitter and a central nervous system (CNS) depressant drug. This drug has a history of abuse when acquired illicitly and used illegally. Abuse of illicit GHB has been associated with adverse CNS events, including seizures, respiratory depression, and profound decreased consciousness, with instances of coma and even death.
Sodium oxybate is supplied as a liquid solution that is mixed with water and taken by mouth. The formulation available in Australia is taken in two doses each night — one at bedtime and another 2½ to 4 hours later — because its effects wear off after a few hours.
A once-nightly formulation of sodium oxybate exists in some other countries, but this version is not currently available in Australia. Is Sodium Oxybate available in Australia?
Sodium oxybate is available in Australia, however, there are several barriers to accessing Sodium Oxybate due to it being a highly restricted schedule 8 poison (controlled drug.) Factors for controlled drugs (schedule 8)
Who can access Sodium Oxybate in Australia?
People diagnosed with narcolepsy who are currently a patient of a sleep specialist, and in some cases, people with idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) where their specialist considers the treatment clinically appropriate and obtains the necessary approvals.
How much does Sodium Oxybate cost?
Sodium oxybate comes in a 90 g (180 mL) bottle of liquid solution. Depending on the pharmacy, each 180 mL bottle costs between $550 – $600. Bottles must be purchased in pairs, so the minimum cost per order is around $1,100.
Note: We’ve received reports that the generic sodium oxybate currently available in Australia may be priced higher — up to $750 per bottle — depending on the pharmacy and supply arrangements. Is Sodium Oxybate on PBS?
Sodium oxybate is not on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) or registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Normally when a medication is approved and listed on the PBS, the Australian government pays for a portion of the medication, and the individual pays for a smaller portion of the medication. As sodium oxybate is not funded by the government like other medications are under the PBS it means that you must pay for it in full.
You can read more about Xyrem and the TGA & PBS in our other factsheet, Why is Xyrem (Sodium Oxybate) not PBS listed or TGA registered (approved)?
How long will a bottle last?
The dose varies by individual. Most people start on a low dose that their doctor gradually increases if needed. The maximum nightly dose is 18 mL (9 g), taken in two doses. Since each bottle contains 180 mL, this provides about 10 days of treatment at the highest dose. Many people use less — either because they benefit from a lower dose or because of cost — and some may skip nights or reduce their dose to save money. The high cost is the main reason many individuals are unable to access sodium oxybate.
I have heard that some people get it cheaper through their hospital. How do I do that?
Please note: the process is the same in each state and territory - except Western Australia. See further below for advice with regard to WA.
To qualify, you must be a patient of a sleep specialist in a public hospital, have tried all other suitable medications, and be unable to afford the full cost of sodium oxybate.
If your doctor is willing to complete the additional paperwork and follow up, most public hospitals with a sleep service should be able to access sodium oxybate at a subsidised price through their Medicine Access Program (sometimes called a Compassionate Use, Expanded Access, Product Familiarisation, Cost-Share, or Early Access Program).
Once approved, the state government covers the cost of the medication through the hospital, and your doctor must complete an individual patient authorisation as part of that process.
Note: There may be some resistance initially from the hospital administration because of the huge cost of the drug and because many hospital pharmacies are unfamiliar with it. Your doctor may not succeed right away, but according to those who have, persistence usually pays off, so hopefully your specialist is willing to keep advocating on your behalf.
People living in WA Unlike in other states and territories, sodium oxybate is included in the WA Statewide Medicines Formulary (SMF) — a list of approved medicines that may be prescribed in public hospitals across Western Australia.
This means that if you are a patient in a WA public hospital and meet the necessary criteria* your doctor does not need to apply for individual approval through the standard access process. Instead, your doctor can prescribe sodium oxybate directly via the Formulary, with the cost subsidised by the WA State Government.
*For refractory narcolepsy, where licensed medications have been ineffective, caused significant side effects, or are contraindicated.
Is Sodium Oxybate the right drug for me?
This is a decision that you and your sleep specialist should make together, ideally in consultation with your broader care team. Your doctor will help determine whether sodium oxybate is suitable and appropriate for your condition.
It can take time to find the right dose and to manage potential side effects, so it’s important to work closely with your treating team to troubleshoot any issues and adjust the dose as needed.
How do I try Sodium Oxybate?
Discuss with your sleep specialist your options and eligibility for accessing sodium oxybate. If you decide to proceed, you’ll follow the same pathway outlined below.
How do I access Sodium Oxybate? Once you and your doctor decide that a trial of sodium oxybate is appropriate, there are several steps that must be completed. Some are required by the federal and state governments, and others relate to supply and distribution through MedSurge Healthcare, the company now responsible for sodium oxybate in Australia.
1. Permit to Write a Prescription
Because sodium oxybate is a Schedule 8 controlled medication, your doctor must first apply for, and be granted a permit to prescribe it. A separate permit is required for each patient. Although the process varies slightly between states and territories, the overall procedure is the same.
Note: Once a doctor has been granted a permit to prescribe a Schedule 8 medication for you, only that doctor can issue prescriptions for it. You cannot have multiple doctors applying for permits, only one prescriber can hold an active permit for each patient at a time.
2. Permit for Import and Supply
Because sodium oxybate is not registered for use in Australia, each patient must be granted individual approval for its import and supply. This approval is issued by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) under the Special Access Scheme (SAS) Category B.
Your prescribing doctor completes the required forms online through the TGA’s SAS portal. When applying, they must include a clinical justification outlining:
The seriousness of your condition
Why approved medicines listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) are unsuitable
The potential risks and benefits of using sodium oxybate
Once the TGA approves the request, your doctor will usually receive an email with an approval letter within about a week.
3. Sign the Consent Form
After the Schedule 8 permit and TGA SAS approval are granted, you’ll be asked to sign a patient consent form agreeing to the use of sodium oxybate. This must be done during a face-to-face appointment with your sleep specialist.
By signing, you acknowledge that sodium oxybate is an unregistered medicine and therefore not formally approved by the TGA.
Note: Your doctor should discuss possible side effects and monitor for interactions with any other medications you take. Make sure you have a clear plan for managing potential side effects or drug interactions.
4. Writing the Prescription
Once all approvals are in place, your doctor can write your sodium oxybate prescription and provide the dispensing pharmacist with copies of the SAS Category B approval, the Schedule 8 permit, and the prescription itself.
5. Filling the Prescription
Your chosen pharmacy can then order sodium oxybate through the approved supplier (MedSurge Healthcare). Because the medicine is not subsidised under the PBS, pharmacies may require payment before placing the order. It’s helpful if your doctor and the senior pharmacist maintain good communication throughout the process.
How is the medication dispensed once I am approved?
Sodium oxybate is dispensed either through a hospital pharmacy or a private pharmacy nominated by your doctor.
Because the medicine is complex to use and remains unregistered in Australia, relatively few doctors or pharmacists have experience with it. This can mean there are occasional delays or administrative challenges, such as incomplete forms or uncertainty about the process, so patience and persistence are often required.
Sources used to write this fact sheet:
Also, email correspondence with Dr Chris Kosky, Dr David Cunnington, and Dr Sutapa Mukherjee
