Metamizole 'gamble' to end
Warnings about risk to some nationalities to be issued nationwide
Warnings about controversial analgesic Metamizole will be issued across Spain to protect ‘at risk’ nationalities from potentially fatal side effects.
WARNINGS about the dangers of the commonly-used but controversial analgesic Metamizole will be issued across Spain to protect ‘at risk’ nationalities from potentially fatal side effects.
New research has highlighted the danger of prescribing the painkiller to certain north European groups – including British people – and health chiefs are determined to act to save lives.
Campaigner Cristina Garcia de Campo travelled to Madrid last month to confront the powerful drug licensing authority AEMPS – the Agencia Espanola de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios.
And the Jávea-based medical translator is now working with the body ahead of a statement being issued and believes a warning will be issued next month.
Cristina told CBNews her research had 'shocked' top officers at AEMPS. “I have spoken to them on the phone since my visit, they said they would definitely have to stop giving it to ‘at risk’ groups.
“I think they were really shocked because they didn’t realise the scale of the problem – they said they definitely need to stop giving it to ‘at risk’ groups; but they need to hold meetings themselves and also to talk to Denia Hospital to decide how to go about this...they said they feel bad about any delay.”
Health authority Marina Salud, which runs Denia Hospital, issued its own warning earlier this year asking doctors to consider an alternative to metamizole when prescribing to people of Anglo Saxon and Scandinavian heritage – the hospital is also completing research into 100,000 cases going back five years.
Metamizole is a generic name for the analgesic, it is also known by a number of brand names including Nolotil in Spain. Members of these groups are potentially at increased danger of developing agranulocytosis, a sudden dramatic fall in white blood cells which can trigger sepsis – people have died, needed amputations after developing gangrene, and been left with a lifelong reliance on medication.
Metamizole nightmares
Cristina has also been asked by AEMPS to highlight the nationalities of people who have contacted her about their experiences with side effects – she is already worried more groups of northern European people could be affected and admits to having 'nightmares'.
She said: “AEMPS have suggested they must inform all doctors and chemists, everyone. They will post the information on their website because it goes everywhere, even internationally.
“Doctors and hospitals will not just take action without AEMPS taking the lead; they cannot just do things willy-nilly.
“It worries me how they will decide who can take this drug safely, I want to ensure everyone is included – if anyone has had side effects, please let me know, people of any nationality.”
She said as publicity has spread about the problem, people started to refuse metamizole. “It is already possible saving lives.”
Cristina does not believe there will be a blanket ban on the use of a drug that has always been seen as safe. “If there are more benefits than risks, that’s fair enough, I don’t want a ban across the world if it is working. The main thing is to stop it being given to ‘at risk’ groups.”
She believes historically as metamizole was seen as “perfectly safe” doctors did not consider there was a problem and did not link the use of the drug to patients presenting with problems. “They did not give it a second thought and believed the conditions were caused by other things.”
However, she denied being alarmist; she said she only wanted to prevent the gamble of taking metamizole. “The aim is to insure people are comfortable and safe – never knowing whether they will be given this drug.”
Cristina is now fine-tuning her case study. She welcomes anyone wishing to help her research to contact her before her next deadline, August 24; she can be contacted by email on cristina drugresearch@gmail.com or on Facebook at Cristina Research Information.