ISLAMABAD, Sept 2: The Network for Consumer Protection (TNCP) has issued an alert to all medical practitioners, warning them not to prescribe certain drugs to avoid adverse consequences in patients.

The drugs listed in the alert are those that contain a combination of Theophyline, Ephedrine HCL, Hydroxyzine and Gatifloxacin.

Dr Talib Lashari, executive coordinator TNCP, said the use of Gatifloxacin was risky for patients, especially those with diabetes, because its use could result in an abrupt dysglicemic effect i.e. lead to a condition of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia (low or high blood sugar).

The health alert has been issued in the wake the ministry of health’s decision to suspend authorisation to market the drug with effect from June 9, 2007, which had been issued to certain pharmaceutical companies.

The statement further said that these drugs had been withdrawn from United States’ market, as far back as in 1998, for lack of evidence of being effective in treating bronchial asthma. While Gatifloxacin has been linked to have a severe dysglycemic effect, such as upsetting blood glucose levels, including symptomatic hyper and hypoglycemia, predominantly in diabetic patients.

Dr Lashari urged manufacturers of these drugs to immediately withdraw them from the market, as their use could lead to adverse consequences.

He also advised medical practitioners not to prescribe the banned drugs.

According to the notification, pharmaceutical companies have been ordered to immediately stop manufacturing all formulations containing a combination of Theophyline, Ephedrine HCL, Hydroxyzine and Gatifloxacin.

Even import of raw material of both the drug groups has been banned.

Furthermore, stocks of Gatifloxacin already distributed and available in the market, with the exception of its formulation for eye drops, could only be utilised under technical supervision of manufacturers, to avoid any complication.

Dr Lashari pointed out that such a mechanism for close technical supervision may not be available at the market level.

The drugs that belong to the Gatifloxacin group that are registered and are available in the market in tablet form include the following brand names: Floget, Gatcin, Gatex, Gatox, Gaxin, Getrlox, Glax, Oxifect, Quintec, Rele, Teriget, Zequin, Zextra, Tequin, Tati, Lyfogat, Xymer, Gaticobaxin, Tagaflox, Gatiwell, Gatiquin, Grayflox, Gatwin, Quixin, Galox, Gatlox, Shalter and Gacin.

The combinations of Theophyline, Ephedrine HCL and Hydroxyzine available in the market include: Marax and Dorax.