E-DRUG: Dipyrone (cont'd)

[Mary Couper <couperm@who.ch>]

E-drug: Dipyrone (cont'd)
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Since the 1970s the use of metamizole sodium (dipyrone) has been
associated with serious and sometimes fatal adverse reactions, notably
cases of blood dyscrasias including agranulocytosis, which led to its
withdrawal or restricted use in some 30 countries. 

Ref. UN Consolidated List of Products whose consumption and/or sale
have been Banned, Withdrawn, Severely Restricted or Not Approved by
governments.

If there is new evidence that metamizole sodium is of value in the
treatment of pain, then this is surely an advance but until such
findings are published, I think a cautionary approach should be taken
and I do not consider edrug to be a suitable venue for promoting
drugs on which regulatory decisions restricting their use have been
made.

Dr M.R: Couper
Drug Selection and Information Unit,
DMP/WHO, Geneva
e-mail: couperm@who.ch
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