look news india
The central government has banned 156 fixed dose combination (FDC) drugs used for fever, cold, allergies and pain. Banning these drugs, the government said that these drugs can prove to be dangerous for human health. FDC drugs are prepared by mixing two or more drugs in a fixed pharmaceutical ratio. These are also called cocktail drugs. According to the notification issued by the Union Health Ministry on August 12, government pharma companies have banned popular drugs 'Aceclofenac 50 mg + Paracetamol 125 mg Tablet' used as pain relievers.
Government bans 156 cocktail drugs
The list includes Mefenamic Acid + Paracetamol Injection, Cetirizine HCl + Paracetamol + Phenylephrine HCl, Levocetirizine + Phenylephrine HCl + Paracetamol, Paracetamol + Chlorpheniramine Maleate + Phenyl Propanolamine and Camylofin Dihydromolgluride 25 mg + Paracetamol 300 mg. The Centre has also banned the combination of paracetamol, tramadol, taurine and caffeine. Tramadol is an opioid-based painkiller.
The notification issued by the Centre said that the Central Government is satisfied that the use of fixed dose combination drugs may pose a risk to humans, while safe alternatives to the said drugs are available. It said that the matter was investigated by a special committee appointed by the Centre. Who found these FDCs to be irrational. 14 FDCs were also banned in June last year. In 2016, the government announced a ban on the manufacture, sale and distribution of 344 FDCs. This decision was challenged in court by pharmaceutical companies.