§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether she will establish an immediate investigation into the level of the use of the drug Depo-medrone in epidural therapy within the NHS;
(2) what advice has been issued by her Department to NHS doctors regarding possible side effects of using the drug Depo-medrone in epidural therapy;
316W(3) what representations have been received by her Department regarding the possible side-effects of the use of the drug Depo-medrone in epidural therapy.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Department has received a small number of inquiries from doctors on the side-effects of Depo-medrone when used by the epidural route and from patients who have received Depo-medrone epidurally.
Depo-medrone is not licensed for epidural administration. The Department has issued no specific advice to doctors on this issue. The data sheet produced by the manufacturer and authorised by the Licensing Authority carries a clear warning that Depo-medrone should not be used for epidural administration. In addition, the data sheet contains warnings of the side-effects associated with the use of Depo-medrone when administered via non-licensed routes.
Departmental officials are in discussion with relevant medical professional bodies about current clinical practice.