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Popularly used anti-cold drugs like Vicks Action-500, Solvin and Wincold, which contain phenylpropanolamine, analgesic nimesulidenimulide and nice), gastrointestinal tegaserod, known under the names of Ibsinorm, Tegod and Tegibs as well as anti-bacterial gatifloxacin may be banned or restricted by the drug technical advisory board. The decision regarding this will be adopted by the DTAB next month.
Some other ‘controversial’ drugs which are being under the scanner of health ministry include the drug used for the treatment of infertility in women, letrozole, the emergency contraceptive drug, levonorgestrel (available as I-pill and Unwanted 72) as well as Placentrex lotion and gel sold, which is a drug used for the extraction of human placenta. The DTAB will decide if the emergency OCPs should be banned as over-the-counter drugs. It will also decide if letrozole, which is currently a drug used in the treatment of breast cancer, can be used as an anti-infertility drug,
Letrozole has been banned across the world but is still used in India. This drug is under the scanner because WHO has raised concerns related to the safety, efficacy and side-effects of the drug.
Earlier this year, the DTAB banned anti-obesity drug, rimonabant, on account of its serious side effects.
