Mr. Powellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent evidence he has received regarding the effects on individual persons taking Valium over long periods; and if he will make a statement.
455W
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergWe have already consulted the Committee on the Review of Medicines about the recently reported association between long-term use of Valium and brain damage. It was established that media reports related to a preliminary communication of observations on 20 cases, made to a scientific conference with the object of stimulating further research. The committee agreed that the preliminary communication did not provide enough evidence to affect its comprehensive guidelines on information, including appropriate warnings, for prescribing practitioners, which had already been issued. The procedure for reviewing Valium under the Medicines Act is now being carried out and I cannot comment on other matters in the guidelines until this is complete.