§ Ms. PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what adverse reports have been received by the Committee on Safety of Medicines about the effect of the drug Bolvidon on patients.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 11 April 1989]: There are two branded medicinal products containing the active ingredient mianserin; one of these is Bolvidon. To date, the Committee on Safety of Medicines has received just over 1,700 reports of adverse reactions which may be associated with mianserin. These reports describe more than 360 separate reactions. A report of a suspected adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean a causal relationship. The Committee carefully monitors all issues of drug safety, and where necessary, issues advice by means of their bulletin "Current Problems" to doctors, dentists and pharmacists. In the case of mianserin, "Current Problems" has drawn attention to various adverse reactions in December 1981 (No. 7), October 1982 (No. 8) April 1983 (No 10) and March (No. 25). Copies are in the Library.