Should Nicotine Tablets Be Available Without a Prescription?
Official title: Notice of Consultation on the Prescription Drug List (PDL): Nicotine Tablets
Health Canada wants to make nicotine tablets available over the counter. Right now, you need a prescription for these quit-smoking aids. The proposal would let pharmacies sell tablets with 4mg or less of nicotine without a doctor's note—just like nicotine gum or patches.
Why This Matters
Trying to quit smoking? This could give you more options at the pharmacy. Nicotine tablets dissolve under your tongue and work faster than patches. Making them easier to get might help more Canadians kick the habit.
What Could Change
Nicotine tablets (4mg or less) would join gum, patches, and lozenges as over-the-counter quit-smoking aids. Health Canada is also considering skipping the usual 6-month delay before the change takes effect.
Key Issues
- Should nicotine tablets be available without a prescription like other nicotine replacement products?
- Should Health Canada skip the usual 6-month implementation delay given the circumstances?
How to Participate
- Review the Guidance Document on Determining Prescription Status to understand how Health Canada makes these decisions.
- Email your comments to drug.prescription.status-statut.dordonnance.des.drogues@hc-sc.gc.ca by the deadline.
Key Documents
- Guidance Document: Determining Prescription Status for Human and Veterinary Drugs (opens in new tab)
- Supplementary Rules Respecting Nicotine Replacement Therapies Order (opens in new tab)
- Guide to the Supplementary Rules Respecting Nicotine Replacement Therapies Order (opens in new tab)
- Notice of Consultation on the Prescription Drug List (PDL): Nicotine Buccal Pouches (opens in new tab)