Arthritis drugs banned
NZPA-AP London Citing possibly lethal side-effects, the British Government is banning two powerful painkilling drugs that have been prescribed to arthritis sufferers for 20 years, the Department of Health and Social Services announced. The drugs tandacote and tanderil, which contain a chemical called oxyphenbutazone, are to be withdrawn from prescription counters by June 8, the Under-Secre-tary of Health, Mr Kenneth Clarke, said in a written statement to the House of Commons.
A department spokesman, Mr Martin Smith, said that
doctors had long known about the drugs’ side-effects but had felt the benefits outweighed the risks. British doctors registered 503 cases of severe sideeffects, including intestinal disorders and high blood pressure, since the drugs were introduced in 1964, said Mr Smith. In 131 cases, the drug was thought to have contributed to a patient’s death.
Britain had instructed the drugs’ Swiss manufacturer, Geigy Pharmaceuticals, to write to doctors and pharmacies to inform them that the drug was no longer available, he said.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19840518.2.73.2
Bibliographic details
Press, 18 May 1984, Page 7
Word Count
164Arthritis drugs banned Press, 18 May 1984, Page 7
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.