HC Deb 02 February 1979 vol 961 c571W
Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further steps he will take to warn general practitioners of the dangers of prescribing clofibrate in the light of the recent trial showing an increased incidence in liver intestinal and gall bladder disease.

Mr. Moyle

As my right hon. Friend said in the reply to the right hon. Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Jenkin) on 15 January, an item on the benefits and risks of treatment with clofibrate will be included in the next edition of the Committee on Safety of Medicines' publication, "Current Problems", shortly to be issued to all doctors in the United Kingdom.—[Vol. 960, c. 624–5.] This will draw attention to the recent trials, which have already been widely publicised in the medical journals. Arrangements have been made for warnings in manufacturers' data sheets to be strengthened to emphasise the increased incidence of gall stones