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Get Naltrexone

Naltrexone in Australia

A funded oral naltrexone route through the PBS. PBS item 8370M gives eligible patients a subsidised route to 50 mg tablets. A GP or alcohol and drug service can be a starting point; confirm the consultation fee, eligibility, exact product, and pharmacy stock locally.

  • Updated

What the PBS listing changes

Naltrexone 50 mg is listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) under item 8370M (30 tablets, one repeat) as a streamlined authority item for alcohol dependence (authority code 13967). The subsidy applies to that indication; other uses are private prescriptions. The Drug and Alcohol Clinical Advisory Service (DACAS) explains to GPs that the PBS expects naltrexone to be part of a comprehensive treatment plan with a goal of abstinence, and that a plan with regular GP review meets that requirement.

You can start with a GP or a state or territory alcohol and drug service. The clinician may prescribe, request tests, or refer depending on the treatment goal and health history. Telehealth may be available, but the provider, assessment, and pharmacy route still need to be confirmed.

The PBS record lists ARX-Naltrexone and Naltrexone GH as the subsidised brands (checked 22 October 2026). Brand, sponsor, and supply can change, so ask the pharmacy which exact 50 mg product it can obtain. Extended-release injection has a separate product and funding question.

A person follows a PBS route from a clinician to a pharmacy

Three places the conversation may begin

The right entry point depends on local services and how much support is needed.

  • A regular GP. A GP can assess the request and may prescribe or refer. Ask about appointment cost, tests, follow-up, and whether the pharmacy should order the product.
  • An addiction specialist. Specialist input may help when opioid use, liver disease, pregnancy, pain treatment, mental health, or previous treatment makes the decision more complex.
  • A public alcohol and drug service. State and territory services can connect medical care with counselling and other support. Eligibility, waiting time, fees, and self-referral rules vary.

Naltrexone costs in Australia

PBS maximum co-payments from 1 January 2026; the actual pharmacy price may be lower.

  • Concession maximum: $7.70. PBS co-payment for concession cardholders.
  • General maximum: $25.00. PBS co-payment for Medicare cardholders.
  • GP consultation: Varies. Bulk billing is not guaranteed; confirm the clinic’s fee.
  • PBS item: 8370M. Naltrexone 50 mg tablets, 30 per pack, one repeat; streamlined authority for alcohol dependence.

State and territory addiction services

Public alcohol and drug lines in each state and territory (numbers and hours as listed by each service, checked 22 October 2026). They give confidential advice and can refer to local treatment.

  • New South Wales. Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS) NSW: 1800 250 015, 24 hours a day.
  • Victoria. DirectLine: 1800 888 236, 24 hours a day.
  • Queensland. Adis 24/7 Alcohol and Drug Support: 1800 177 833.
  • South Australia. Alcohol and Drug Information Service (DASSA): 1300 131 340, every day from 8:30am to 10pm.
  • Western Australia. Alcohol and Drug Support Line: 1800 198 024, 24 hours a day.
  • Tasmania. Alcohol and Drug Service (South): 1300 139 641, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
  • Australian Capital Territory. Canberra Health Services Alcohol and Drug Services, through its community intake line: (02) 5124 9977, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
  • Northern Territory. AOD Treatment and Community Services, Top End: (08) 8922 8399. Alcohol and Drug Services Central Australia: (08) 8951 7580.

Australia-specific questions

Is the PBS co-payment the total treatment cost?

Not necessarily. The consultation, tests, follow-up, dispensing, and any non-PBS product can create separate costs. Ask for each part before treatment begins.

Can a GP prescribe?

A GP may assess and prescribe naltrexone or refer to a specialist or public service. Individual practice and the complexity of the situation differ, so same-day prescribing should not be assumed.

What about Vivitrol?

The extended-release injection has a separate TGA, PBS, provider, and price pathway from oral tablets. Check current records and obtain an itemised provider quote rather than relying on an online price range.

Can targeted naltrexone be prescribed?

Targeted dosing is a clinician decision and may be off-label relative to the local product information. Ask how its evidence fits the goal and how unplanned drinking and safety will be managed.

What if I live far from a service?

Ask Healthdirect or the relevant state service about local and telehealth options. A remote consultation does not guarantee that every assessment, test, prescription, or medicine supply step can be completed remotely.

How is recent opioid use checked?

The clinician considers the exact opioid, timing, dependence history, symptoms, and any tests. A urine result alone cannot prove readiness in every case.

Choose the Australian entry point that fits

A regular GP may be enough; a public alcohol and drug service may offer broader support. Healthdirect can help you find a nearby service without assuming which one will prescribe.

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Sources

Checked .

  1. Australian Government PBS co-payments for 2026
  2. PBS item 8370M: naltrexone
  3. Naltrexone in alcohol dependence (GP factsheet) — Drug and Alcohol Clinical Advisory Service (DACAS). PBS authority as part of a comprehensive treatment plan with a goal of abstinence.
  4. Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS) NSW — NSW Health, Your Room
  5. DirectLine — Victorian Government
  6. Adis 24/7 Alcohol and Drug Support — Queensland Health
  7. Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS) — SA Health, DASSA
  8. Alcohol and Drug Support Line — Mental Health Commission, Western Australia
  9. Drug and alcohol services in Tasmania — Rural Health Tasmania (the Tasmanian Department of Health page blocks automated checks)
  10. Central Health Intake — Canberra Health Services
  11. Alcohol and Drug Services, Canberra Health Services (directory entry) — Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT
  12. Alcohol and other drugs contacts — NT Health
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