§ Mr. Aspinwallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what steps his Department has taken since 1980 to inform general practitioners of the dangers of overdoses of Distalgesic;
(2) if the Committee on Safety of Medicines is satisfied that the drug dextropropoxyphene is safe as a component of Distalgesic for normal prescribed use;
(3) if there have been any changes in the data sheet provided for doctors by manufacturers of the drug Distalgesic since January 1980 which have been reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines.
§ Mr. Robert Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he is satisfied with the safety record of the drug Distalgesic; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he is satisfied with the relative cost of the drug Distalgesic; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe dangers associated with overdosage of Distalgesic have been well documented in medical literature. Since 1980 a number of publications supplied to doctors by our Department have included reminders about this problem, includingPrescribers Journal and the British National Formulary. The data sheet for Distalgesic was amended in 1982 following the advice of the Committee on Review of Medicines, to include extra warnings on a number of matters, including the danger of over-dosage. The Committee on Safety of Medicines continues to monitor the safety of Distalgesic, and will recommend further action if it considers that this is necessary.