What are product substitutions and how do they work?

A product substitution is when a pharmacy changes (substitutes) the product they dispense from the product you've been prescribed to a different but similar product. The State substitutuion rules and how they are interpreted from pharmacy to pharmacy vary so it's very difficult to tell you exactly how substitutuions work. Below we've outlined the general process to provide you with some guidance/expectations of what to expect when a substitutuion is required.

Substitutions may happen in the following circumstances:
- The product you've been prescribed is out of stock Australia-wide
- The product you've been prescribed is discontinued (and out of stock Australia-wide)
- Your practitioner has written that substitutions are allowed on your prescription.

In all states other than VIC, pharmacies now require the prescription they are dispensing to have the exact product and brand name of the product that they dispense. This means that a 'substitutuion' is not allowed without a brand new prescription in all States other than VIC.

So, if you require a different product because of one of the scenarios listed above, and your pharmacy is outside of VIC, then the pharmacy will likely have to reach out to your prescriber or clinic to ask them to provide a brand new prescription. This could take anywhere from a day to a week (or more) depending on how quickly your clinic/practitioner responds.

If your practitioner has stated on the prescription that substitutions are allowed and you order from a pharmacy in VIC, then the pharmacy may be able to change the product either with verbal or written confirmation from your clinic/prescriber or in some circumstances without getting any confirmation. Substitutions in these circumstances typically happen much more quickly.