Restricted painkiller sales due to side effects of pain killers

Restricted painkiller sales: "Four hours of action, four days of side effects"

Shopping before the holiday once again a large pack painkillers? In the future there will be something not good. Aspirin and other agents should only be in small doses without a prescription. The pharmacologist Kay Brune about the dangers of this Allerweltsmittel and their abuse.

   
No more storage packs of painkillers: The commonly used non-prescription pain relievers should in future only be available in small doses in the pharmacy: acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen are then only remain without a prescription in such quantities that are sufficient for four days. Paracetamol has been since 2009, only released in smaller packages for sale. It remains. These decisions, the expert committee of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) taken now. The federal government has yet to approve the following, but in general the recommendations of the Committee. About the pros and cons of decisions Kay Brune, a pharmacologist at the University speaks of Erlangen-Nuremberg.

Pain medication would no longer be available in unlimited quantities.

Side Effect of Researcher: All known painkillers are likely soon only be available in smaller packs in order to protect the consumer. What makes them so dangerous?

Kay Brune: Available for sale does not mean harmless. In particular, the Allerweltsmittel aspirin and paracetamol can have serious side effects. Aspirin exerts its analgesic effect for about four hours, but side-effects show for four days. I'm talking about blood clotting disorders: The drug thins the blood. This effect does not end with the analgesic effect of the pill, but takes days long. Consumers who knows? Bleeding is the major risk of this drug.



Acetaminophen can cause liver damage, in turn primarily to carry through to liver failure. The problem is that it can be dosed very lightly, because it is contained in many combination products, and as fast a critical dose is reached.

Side Effect of Researcher: You have spoken in the past for paracetamol only spending on prescription ...

Brune: Yes, I had submitted an application to the BfArM. He was not accepted, which I regret very much. I think, a drug for which a doubling of the recommended dose can be fatal, has no place in the open market.

But I see that it would be very difficult, if Germany would prohibit the only country in the open market. Doctors also fear that patients are not adequately supplied with painkillers when they have to be issued each time a prescription for paracetamol.

The regular use of painkillers such as aspirin can cause severe side effects. Therefore, they should be sold without a prescription only in small packages.

A pharmacist in a pharmacy in Cologne looking for a drug.
Some of the most common pain relievers such as aspirin should be in the future without a prescription only sold in small packs. A similar recommendation was made by an expert committee of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) in Bonn. Should be limited to packs of OTC pain relievers with the drug acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen. Free prescription packs of these funds should be limited to a maximum treatment period of four days. Larger packages will be available on prescription, however, like a BfArM spokesman said.

If the average over a longer period is taken without medical supervision or exceeded the acceptable daily intake, it may come according to BfArM significant side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding. Discussed will be a limited drug release from pain killers for quite some time.

The President of the Federal Institute, Walter Schwerdtfeger, called the vote of the Committee of Experts makes an important contribution to the strengthening of consumer protection. Excessive use of painkillers could "have in some cases serious health consequences," Schwerdtfeger said. Many patients are aware of these risks, but not sufficient. "Limiting the package size is therefore an important step for more information and patient safety," said the chief authorities.

According to the BfArM will have to assess the Federal Ministry of Health's recommendation. The agenda of the Committee, in which sit among other representatives of the doctors, pharmacists and industry as well as independent experts, was also the application, products containing paracetamol to make prescription drugs. The first decision was still pending.