HEALTH AND MEDICINE-Ban on Dangerous Pain-Killers


HEALTH AND MEDICINE Ban on Dangerous Pain-Killers Padma Prakash DRUGS containing amidopyrine and phenacetin, two hazardous pain-killers, have finally been banned in India. The toxic side-effects of these drugs have been known for several decades and many Western countries have either banned them or restricted their use. Strictly speaking, of course, many other drugs, as for instance, the antibiotic chloramphenicol, are highly toxic and known to cause fatal damage. But chloramphenicol is considered indispensable in life-threatening situations, especially in treating typhoid and paratyphoid. Neither amidopyrine nor phenacetin offer any specal advantages over other pain-relievers such as aspirin or paracetamol (sold under brand names such as Crocin). It Is ironic then that the ban should effectively come into force only after a legal battle.