PBS costs, drug interactions, generics, and prescriptions - what Australians actually need to know.
Search for your medication on the PBS website (pbs.gov.au) by brand name or active ingredient. You can also type your medication name into the mychemist.ai tool and select "Is there a cheaper generic/PBS option?" to get a plain-English answer.
Your pharmacist can check for you at the counter too. Not every medication is PBS-listed, and some are only subsidised for specific conditions. Read more about how the PBS works on our blog.
In 2026, the maximum PBS co-payment is $31.60 for general patients and $7.70 for concession card holders. These amounts are updated on 1 January each year by the Australian Government.
Many common medications cost less than $31.60 because the PBS sets the price at the actual cost when it falls below the co-payment amount. Once you hit the PBS Safety Net threshold, your costs drop further.
The PBS Safety Net caps what your family spends on prescription medicines each calendar year. Once you reach the threshold, general patients pay the concession rate ($7.70 per script) and concession card holders pay nothing for the rest of the year.
Your pharmacy tracks this automatically through the PBS Safety Net Card. Ask your pharmacist to check your running total at any time. The threshold resets on 1 January each year, so keep your records up to date in the second half of the year.
Generic medications contain the same active ingredient, same dose, and same form as the brand name version. The TGA requires generics to meet the same safety and effectiveness standards. The main difference is price.
Brand name Lipitor (atorvastatin) and generic atorvastatin do the same job, but the generic costs less because the original patent has expired. Your pharmacist can substitute a generic unless your doctor has written "brand substitution not permitted" on the script. Read our guide to generics for more detail.
Your pharmacist is the best first step. They can see your full medication history and flag conflicts on the spot. You can also use the mychemist.ai tool to check interactions by entering your medication name and selecting "Drug interactions".
For a full review, ask your GP or pharmacist for a Home Medicines Review (HMR) or a MedsCheck. Both are free through the PBS and give you a one-on-one session with a pharmacist who reviews everything you take, including over-the-counter supplements.
Antibiotics (amoxicillin, cefalexin), blood pressure tablets (amlodipine, ramipril), cholesterol-lowering statins (atorvastatin, rosuvastatin), antidepressants (sertraline, escitalopram), and strong pain relief (tramadol, oxycodone) all require a prescription.
Some medications like codeine used to be available over the counter but now need a script. Pharmacist-only medicines (Schedule 3) sit behind the counter and require a chat with the pharmacist but no prescription. If you are unsure, check the TGA scheduling guide or ask your pharmacist.