Two drugs banned for their side-effects

NEW DELHI: India's Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) has decided to ban two controversial drugs - Gatifloxacine and Tegaserod - because of their side-effects.

The decision was taken by DTAB's sub-committee headed by Dr Y K Gupta from AIIMS which met on Thursday.

DTAB, however, could not make up its mind on the third controversial drug Deanxit and said, "More data is needed on the drug's side-effects."

Confirming this to TOI, drug controller general of India Dr Surinder Singh said, "Gatifloxacine and Tegaserod will be withdrawn from the market in two weeks' time."

Jointly, Gatifloxacine, Tegaserod and Deanxit do business of around Rs 70 crore annually in India. But for some time, there have been concerns on their safety. Gatifloxacine is used as an antibiotic. But according to Dr Singh, this drug is known to shoot up and also dip blood sugar levels. Drug expert Dr C M Gulati had told TOI that it is known to cause heart movement abnormality.

Tegaserod is used in India for irritable bowel syndrome and chronic constipation. Dr Gulati said, "This drug is banned all over as it showed a 10-fold increased risk of heart attacks and stroke. The most popular Indian name of this drug is Ibsinorm and Tegibs."

Deanxit alone has a Rs 35 crore market in India and is used for depression. "It's a fixed dose combination having flupenthixol and melitracen. Melitracen is not approved in India. So how can you okay a combo of which one ingredient is not approved," Dr Gulati added.

Source: TOI