Deformity drug warning

Press, 1 April 1980, Page 2

Deformity drug warning

PA: ’ ' ■'-< Auckland .The Department‘of Health is[ sending doctors > warning against?•; giving women certain- types ~ of . 'medication while pregnant... ; ’ v . ; Tfae move .is. a result of[ recent publicity; about the anti-nausea drug. Debendox! (Merrell), said the depart-i ment’s director of clinical services (Dr J.: Phillips). : ‘The New Zealand formula' for Debendox includes a[ chemical, that was withdrawn from the formula in the United. States three years ago.-.-:.' , The-Australian doctor who discovered the' dangers of the morning . sickness drug, [Thalidomide,, said the chemical dycyclomine —■ caused birth deformities. Dr Phillips said that Debendox, .together with the chemical ingredient, dycyclomine, was used “moderately ! widely”fin New Zealand, but there was no scientific evidence to; link it with birth deformities here, He was„. yvriting to doctors because ;of recent publicity' but therewas ■ no scientific reason for the letters, he said. He was readvising doctors of, something that was already departmental policy. 'This month an American couple was awarded's2o,ooo, ■after they claimed Debendox! caused their son’s, birfh de-! formities. .[■. ’ . '. After this, calls were tpade in- the United States land the-United Kingdom to have the drug investigated.