Banned formulations

The government of India has banned certain combinations of medicines as being non- rational and one among them is a fixed-dose combination of dextropropoxyphene with any other drug other than anti-spasmodics and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

I came across two formulations being sold under brand names Spasmo-Proxyvon and Buta-Proxyvon which contain Acetaminophen/Paracetamol which is being termed as an NSAID and my investigation shows that acetaminophen is anti-pyretic and analgesic and not NSAID. Thus, I feel these two brands belong in the banned category of formulations and the medical fraternity should exercise utmost caution prescribing this combination. According to the drugs controller for Karnataka, acetaminophen is basically an anagesic/antipyretic, its anti inflammatory property is weak and seldom clinically useful and hence it cannot be classifed as an antiinflammatory drug under the category NSAID.

Further, Indian Pharmacopoeia 1996, an authentic reference published by the ministry of health and family welfare, government of India, has classified it as an analgesic, antipyretic, and not as NSAID.