Union Health Ministry revoked ban on painkiller drug Analgin

The Union health ministry on 19 March 2014 revoked the ban on painkiller and anti-pyretic drug Analgin. The drug was prescribed in cases of severe pain or pain due to tumor and to bring down temperature in refractory cases when other antipyretics fail.

The Ministry allowed the pharmaceutical companies to re-launch the medicine in the market. However, companies selling the product will have to carry a warning on their package and promotional literature of the drug specifying its usage.

The Ministry had banned the drug in June 2013 due to the criticism Ministry received from the Parliamentary Standing Committee that it is restricted in most parts of the world.

Also, there was presumption that the drug has a known side-effect agranulocytosis which suppresses white blood cell production, bringing down immunity and can be potentially fatal.

However, the matter of suspension was then taken up by the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB). The advisory board concluded that the duration of Analgin treatment was left only for few days and therefore, the use of the drug can be continued according to the prescribed indications.

The Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) is the highest decision-making body in the Union Health Ministry on technical matters.

Analgin is banned in most parts of the world including in the US, Australia, Japan, Canada, Sweden and France. It was also banned in a few developing countries such as Nigeria and Nepal.