[e-drug] fenoverine (cont)

[Helpline <helpline@thenetwork.org.pk>]

E-drug: fenoverine (cont)
---------------------------------------------

[This is a followup to the message in february about The Network for 
Consumer Protection in Pakistan warning for health professionals and 
consumers against the use of Fenoverine. BS]

Dear E-druggers,
Greetings!
Fenoverine is an antispasmodic drug marketed in Pakistan. According to
our research carried out about its availability and registration status,
the drug was registered in France and Italy only where due to reported
cases of rhabdomyolysis has been withdrawn voluntarily since 1997.  We
used this evidence to convince our Ministry of Health to deregister the
potentially dangerous drug. The Company marketing the drug in Pakistan
has launched a counter campaign and is providing their arguments
regarding the safety and effectiveness of the drug.
The 'evidence' provided by them contains quotes of two published studies
by P.Chariot et al, 1995 and Jouglard et al, 1996, in which they claim
that underlying disease conditions of the patients were responsible for
the event of rhabdomyolysis and there is no direct cause and effect
relationship. One of the studies shows that muscle abnormalities due to
genetic disposition were the contributing factor in the development of
rhabdomyolysis. The company has also provided two unpublished studies
without any detail on the protocols of the studies.
The company has also provided a list of countries where the drug is
registered or being registered that include Chile, Columbia, Mexico,
China, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, India, Pakistan and Thailand.
My initial search to contact people in these countries has not been
fruitful.
E-Druggers are invited to comment on it.

Ayesha Ahmed
Drug Information officer
Pakistan
Helpline <helpline@thenetwork.org.pk>
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