INDICES> Metamizole in your country? (9)

["Bozidar Vrhovac" <vrhovac@rebro.mef.hr>]

INDICES> Metamizole in your country? (9)
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Dear all,

In Croatia metamizole is in theory a prescription only drug. It can,
however, be obtained without prescription as well. An analysis of
patients with agranulocytosis hospitalised in one of the
haematological
units performed some years ago showed that 25% had intake of
metamizole
in their anamnesis.  One of the replies dealing with this question (I
think from Germany where the status of metamizole is similar to that
described in Croatia) said that the frequency of this serious side
effect is unknown (up to 1:500.000). It is not true. In Sweden the
frequency (before the drug was withdrawn for the second time) was
calculated as 1:1.750!!

The newest (?) attempt to save this drug is a theory that there are
ethnic differences in reactions to it. In Bulgaria it was (is?) for
years the most prescribed drug (not analgesic only!). Does anybody
know
that such "ethnic" differences exist between various parts of Europe?

Professor B. Vrhovac

Croatian ADR monitoring centre
University hospital Rebro, Zagreb
Division of Clinical Pharmacology
12 Kispaticeva, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Fax&phone: +385 1 2421 875
E-mail: vrhovac@rebro.mef.hr
bozidar.vrhovac@zg.hinet.hr


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