Nolotil probe for Brits

The regional health authority has been requested for data about British and Scandinavian patients prescribed painkiller Nolotil – which has shown no adverse effects in Spaniards but has proven fatal to northern Europeans.

DÉNIA Hospital has asked the regional health authority for four years' worth of data about British and Scandinavian patients who have been prescribed Nolotil – a painkiller which has shown no adverse effects in Spaniards but has proven fatal to northern Europeans.

As reported in last week's CBNews, medical translator Cristina del Campo carried out extensive research after hearing cases of Brits who had suffered sepsis after being prescribed Nolotil, the active ingredient of which is metamizole, and discovered the drug carried the risk of dangerous contraindications for northerners due to some as yet unidentified 'genetic difference'.

Metamizole is banned in the UK, but is regularly used in Spain as it has never been found to cause serious side-effects in natives.

Regional health authorities want to study the data to see whether northern Europeans really do react badly to Nolotil and, if this is the case, will warn medics not to prescribe them to Scandinavian, Irish and British patients.

Metamizole has been found to cause a sudden drop in white blood cells, which is fatal in 30% of cases.

The prospectus for Nolotil lists this as a possible side-effect, but states it is ' extremely rare' and only found in a maximum of one in 100,000 patients – although it has been reported that the incidence is much higher in Brits and nationalities of similar genetic makeup.

Other 'extremely rare' side-effects iclude inflammation of the kidneys, a drop in red blood cells, skin reactions such as blisters, and a sharp fall in blood pressure.