§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to alert doctors to the dangers of prescribing dextropropoxyphene, in the light of the information sent to him by the hon. Member for Brent, South.
§ Mr. MoyleI have taken note of the contents of the article in the BritishMedical Journal, to which my hon. Friend has drawn my attention.
The article refers to problems of drug dependence, and this matter is being referred to the technical sub-committee of the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs at its next meeting.
The intrinsic safety, quality and efficacy of dextropropoxyphene are currently being considered in the course of the review of medicines under the Medicines Act. Data sheets and other product information already contain warnings about matters mentioned in the article, but it will be open to the Committee on Review of Medicines to consider whether any further warnings about the correct use of products containing this substance should be included, or any other action taken on these matters.
In the meantime, the appearance of this article will serve to alert doctors to the situation.