Summarised by Centrist
Melatonin will soon be available over the counter in New Zealand pharmacies under a new government decision to ease restrictions on the popular sleep hormone.
Associate Health Minister David Seymour said the change was long overdue and would bring New Zealand into line with consumer access in other countries.
The medication is currently prescription-only for most users, though adults over 55 can access small amounts directly from a pharmacy.
The new rules will allow all adults to buy it without a prescription, making it easier for those with sleep issues or jet lag to access the supplement legally and affordably.
“This is a commonsense decision… and will make melatonin more accessible in New Zealand than in many other countries,” Seymour said.
Melatonin will remain prescription-only for children and teens, after clinical advice that younger patients need closer oversight, for example those with neurodevelopmental disorders who may be prescribed it when other sleep interventions fail.
Seymour also announced that medicinal psilocybin, the active compound in so-called magic mushrooms, would now be available for prescription outside of clinical trials. This marks the first time New Zealand has allowed psilocybin to be prescribed for treatment-resistant depression.
While still considered an “unapproved medicine,” psilocybin can now be prescribed by psychiatrists with appropriate training.
