HC Deb 30 January 1979 vol 961 cc383-5W
Mr. Michael Spicer

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish what information he has on the contra-side-effects resulting from the use of Butazolidin and the number of

region, respectively, at the last date for which figures are available; and if he will express each figure per 1,000 child population.

Mr. Alfred Morris

The information requested is as follows:

figures are available; and it he will express each figure per 1,000 adult population.

Mr. Alfred Morris

The information requested is as follows:

patients who have suffered such contra-side-effects.

Mr. Moyle

Butazolidin is one of a large number of medicines containing phenylbutazone which have been in use for many years. On the basis of a study by the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) published in 1977 (BMJ 1, 1500) the incidence of fatal blood disorders, which are the main risk associated with phenylbutazone, was estimated to be 2.2 per 100,000 patients treated. Most of these deaths occur in those who are both aged and severely incapacitated. Therefore, the risks of treatment with this drug which are well known have to be balanced against the undoubted benefit to patients suffering from painful conditions.