21 August, 2007

Following the recall of the drug Prexige by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) last week Medicines Line reported a 50% increase in calls. Medicines Line is a national medicines information service funded by National Prescribing Service Limited.

NPS CEO, Dr Lynn Weekes said “a lot of people just don’t know what to do and don’t know where to go, they are aware of a drug that may be recalled and are anxious and concerned that it may be their drug.

“Half the calls about the recall were not about Prexige, but were related to osteoporosis and osteoarthritis and similar sounding medications.

“People taking Prexige want to know: ‘what do I do now, what was the problem and what does that mean for my future health?”

“We advise people to follow the advice of the TGA, which is to stop taking Prexige.

“The problem was that as of August 10, TGA received 10 reports (six in six weeks) of adverse reactions to Prexige, including two deaths and two patients requiring liver transplants.”

Those people who were taking Prexige should go to their doctor for assessment of any clinical or biochemical evidence of liver damage and to discuss alternative management options for their condition.”

In August 2006, NPS issued a review of Lumiracoxib, the active ingredient in Prexige, which is a non steroidal anti inflammatory drug (NSAID) and listed heart problems including heart attacks and strokes as well as stomach problems, such as nausea or heartburn, ulcers or stomach bleeding as some of those possible serious side effects.

NPS recommends that all NSAIDs should be used for the shortest possible time and used intermittently for symptomatic relief, or before painful activities.

For patients who are unable to get to a doctor immediately, they can talk to their pharmacist or phone the NPS’s Medicines Line on 1300 888 763 for the cost of a local call from a landline.

NPS is currently running a national awareness campaign titled “Get to know your medicines” to increase consumer awareness and understanding about the medicines they are taking in order to minimize the possibilities of side effects and interactions. More information is available at www.nps.org.au

ENDS