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SCIENCE COLUMN
SCIENCE COLUMN
Gives life or takes life? “Doctors give drugs of which they know little, into bodies, of which they know less, for diseases of which they know nothing at all.” Voltaire Madhuparna Bhattacharjee Suffering from common cold and influenza? I am almost sure that you have already started taking D-cold or Vicks Action 500. Am I wrong? In general we are of the idea, especially during this time of the year with its fluctuating temperature and weather that we need not consult a doctor for a simple fever. Why pay the physician his fees when we already know the required medicine for fever? But are you taking the right medicine? Beware; you might be cured of fever, but with some damages to other organs of the body. Do you think we need to have a reality show or something like Ripley’s Believe it or Not to make people aware that India has become a hub of banned drugs? You will be shocked to know the list of drugs which we consume and are actually banned in other countries of the world. These drugs are selling like hot cakes in India. Ghastly, isn’t it? But 40
July 08
true. Surprisingly, many of us are aware of the fact that few very commonly used medicines are banned, yet we tend to buy them from pharmacies, in which they are readily available. Common man may find it hard to know about the ban imposed. But, what are the doctors and the pharmacists there for? Despite knowing about the harmful effects of few compositions in medicines, why do doctors continue to prescribe them? What about the pharmacists too? Aren’t they aware of the ban? Why do they give
such medicines without the prescription of a doctor to anyone and everyone who ask for it? A volley of questions arises in ones mind. The biggest question here is, who has the answer? The reason, most people say, is lack of awareness. While doctors in big hospitals are aware of the ban on the drugs, many private practitioners do not keep track of the latest developments. The Government of India vide notifications published in the Gazette of India vide G.S.R. No. 578 (E) dated 23/07/1983 and subsequent amendments, made under Section 26 A of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 has prohibited the manufacture, sale and distribution of the following categories of fixed dose combinations which do not have any therapeutic justification or are likely to involve risk to human beings: Various reports suggest that India is one of the very few countries that export large amount of various fake drugs to different parts of the world. Many of
these drugs which have been banned in developed countries are easily available in India. Let us take a few examples here. Nimesulide, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug has been reported to cause liver damage. It is still widely used in India commonly for pain relief and fever, although it was approved for use here in 1994 for painful inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders. This medicine was
“Earlier, countries such as Finland, Spain and Portugal suspended the use of nimesulide in the wake of reports of its serious adverse effects on the liver. Even countries such as Bangladesh have banned Nimesulide for both adults and children, but the Indian government has turned a blind eye to the entire issue.” Dr C M Gulati Editor, Monthly Index of Medical Specialties (MIMS) year, one of Italy’s leading dailies, Corriere della Sera and few other media houses reported that a top-ranking official at Italy’s medicines agency AIFA had been filmed by police while accepting bribes from employees of pharma-
Nimesulide banned mainly due to its hepatotoxicity. Further, very recently, in May this
ceutical companies. The money was allegedly being paid to ensure that certain drugs (nimesulide-containing Aulin being most prominent) would be spared scrutiny from the drugs dogwatch. A second example that can been cited is that of Cisapride, sold in the market
Cisapride with brand names such as Ciza and Syspride. This drug is usually administered in cases of acidity and constipation. But how many of us are aware that this too is banned? Cases of serious heart arrhythmia, including ventricular fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmia, cardiac arrest and sudden death have been observed in people taking Cisapride (Propulsid). Besides affecting the heart, its adverse effects on the nervous system, like headaches, dizziness and fatigue have also been reported. July 08
41
SCIENCE COLUMN
Gives life or takes life? “Doctors give drugs of which they know little, into bodies, of which they know less, for diseases of which they know nothing at all.” Voltaire Madhuparna Bhattacharjee Suffering from common cold and influenza? I am almost sure that you have already started taking D-cold or Vicks Action 500. Am I wrong? In general we are of the idea, especially during this time of the year with its fluctuating temperature and weather that we need not consult a doctor for a simple fever. Why pay the physician his fees when we already know the required medicine for fever? But are you taking the right medicine? Beware; you might be cured of fever, but with some damages to other organs of the body. Do you think we need to have a reality show or something like Ripley’s Believe it or Not to make people aware that India has become a hub of banned drugs? You will be shocked to know the list of drugs which we consume and are actually banned in other countries of the world. These drugs are selling like hot cakes in India. Ghastly, isn’t it? But 40
July 08
true. Surprisingly, many of us are aware of the fact that few very commonly used medicines are banned, yet we tend to buy them from pharmacies, in which they are readily available. Common man may find it hard to know about the ban imposed. But, what are the doctors and the pharmacists there for? Despite knowing about the harmful effects of few compositions in medicines, why do doctors continue to prescribe them? What about the pharmacists too? Aren’t they aware of the ban? Why do they give
such medicines without the prescription of a doctor to anyone and everyone who ask for it? A volley of questions arises in ones mind. The biggest question here is, who has the answer? The reason, most people say, is lack of awareness. While doctors in big hospitals are aware of the ban on the drugs, many private practitioners do not keep track of the latest developments. The Government of India vide notifications published in the Gazette of India vide G.S.R. No. 578 (E) dated 23/07/1983 and subsequent amendments, made under Section 26 A of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 has prohibited the manufacture, sale and distribution of the following categories of fixed dose combinations which do not have any therapeutic justification or are likely to involve risk to human beings: Various reports suggest that India is one of the very few countries that export large amount of various fake drugs to different parts of the world. Many of
these drugs which have been banned in developed countries are easily available in India. Let us take a few examples here. Nimesulide, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug has been reported to cause liver damage. It is still widely used in India commonly for pain relief and fever, although it was approved for use here in 1994 for painful inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders. This medicine was
“Earlier, countries such as Finland, Spain and Portugal suspended the use of nimesulide in the wake of reports of its serious adverse effects on the liver. Even countries such as Bangladesh have banned Nimesulide for both adults and children, but the Indian government has turned a blind eye to the entire issue.” Dr C M Gulati Editor, Monthly Index of Medical Specialties (MIMS) year, one of Italy’s leading dailies, Corriere della Sera and few other media houses reported that a top-ranking official at Italy’s medicines agency AIFA had been filmed by police while accepting bribes from employees of pharma-
Nimesulide banned mainly due to its hepatotoxicity. Further, very recently, in May this
ceutical companies. The money was allegedly being paid to ensure that certain drugs (nimesulide-containing Aulin being most prominent) would be spared scrutiny from the drugs dogwatch. A second example that can been cited is that of Cisapride, sold in the market
Cisapride with brand names such as Ciza and Syspride. This drug is usually administered in cases of acidity and constipation. But how many of us are aware that this too is banned? Cases of serious heart arrhythmia, including ventricular fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmia, cardiac arrest and sudden death have been observed in people taking Cisapride (Propulsid). Besides affecting the heart, its adverse effects on the nervous system, like headaches, dizziness and fatigue have also been reported. July 08
41
