Children's paracetamol will be sold behind pharmacy counters and asthma medication Ventolin limited to one purchase per person to stop coronavirus hoarding.
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Deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly announced the new restrictions after people unnecessarily stockpiled the crucial medications in a panicked response to the pandemic.
"Please do not buy more than you need for anything, whether that's food and particularly medicines," he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
Professor Kelly said Australia had a top quality system to monitor medicine shortages.
All suppliers must tell health authorities if there is a shortage on the horizon.
"We have not had that from any suppliers," Professor Kelly said.
In addition, some prescription medicines will be limited to one month's supply.
Pharmacists will be strongly encouraged to limit dispensing and sales of all other medicines.
Professor Kelly said he recognised people were anxious, but panic buying of medicines needed to stop.
NSW chief medical officer Kelly Chant said there was misinformation on social media suggesting paracetamol could cure coronavirus.
"Panadol does not treat COVID-19, but (treats) the symptoms which might be fever, muscle aches and pains," she told reporters in Sydney.
Australian Associated Press
