Pain medicine banned in Laos

Eire and Singapore have already suspended sale of this type of medicine. Pills containing nimesulide are made in India and Thailand , and have been used in Laos since 2004 to treat acute pain.

The notice from the department advised relevant companies that import nimesulide-containing medicines to Laos to recall their products from all patients, pharmacies, hospitals and wholesalers immediately.

A health official also advised patients to see their doctor for a review of their condition and further advice. This includes returning any remaining packets (unused or partially used) of the products to their pharmacist.

In addition to warning the public, officials from the department also plan to check pharmacies in Vientiane to make sure that medicines containing the prohibited substance are withdrawn from the market.

According to the World Health Organisation, nimesulide is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine authorised in many countries for the treatment of acute pain, the symptomatic treatment of painful osteoarthritis and for primary dysmenorrhoea (menstrual pain).

On the WHO database, there are 320 reports of liver and bile-system disorders in patients who had taken medicines containing nimesulide. Eighteen cases were shown to have a clear association with nimesulide use.

Liver damage is a serious and rare side-effect known to occur with medicines including nimesulide. The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) had previously issued advice to health-care professionals regarding this risk. The IMB has received 53 liver-related adverse reaction reports related to nimesulide since the product was first approved for use in Ireland in 1995.

Suspended produc ts containing nimesulide include medicines sold under the brand names Aulin (100mg tablets and granules), Mesulid (100mg tablets and granules) and Mesine (100mg tablets).

//Vientiane Times//Asia News Network