Doorstop - AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, Canberra - Warnings from the United States about a number of drugs, in particular, Ibuprofen

             As you may know, over the last - or since 1^st January, this drug which was available only at pharmacies now is available across the counter in supermarkets.

             We know that Ibuprofen has significant side effects, particularly if taken in a chronic capacity, and those side effects particularly relate to gastrointestinal bleeding - that's bleeding from the stomach - and also can have adverse effects in relation to blood pressure control and kidney function.

             So I suppose our concern has been that, first of all, this drug has been listed such that it can be sales, for and against drugs on the shelves?

 GLASSON: The cynical ones amongst us would say that's happening.  I mean, at the end of the day the drug companies are very, very powerful, they have tremendous political influence and I think that, when it comes to that, there's a certain amount of pressure to get these drugs out on the open market.

             Obviously, once they're on the open market, you've got advertising.  And we'd like to think that if that advertising does occur it really reflects the truth about that drug, and really sends a clear message that if you have chronic pain please go and see your doctor and discuss the issue. 

             There's no point in treating the symptom when you don't know what the underlying cause is.  But these patients may in fact have some severe organic disease, such as a cancer for which you're taking these pain tablets for, and so we really need to find out why they're getting the pain and if the doctor then decides, with the pharmacist, that the Ibuprofen is the appropriate drug, so be it.  And making sure that that does not interact with other drugs the patients are on.

QUESTION: Has Australia been caught napping on this issue?  Have health authorities been caught napping?  Are we reacting to the Americans?

 GLASSON: Look, we brought this issue up last year, obviously, because we were concerned about this drug being listed in the first place.  And we did send a letter to the Minister, Mr Abbott, in October, indicating our concern about it.  So I think the Americans - the Food and Drug Administration - have responded appropriately, and I would expect Australia to do the same thing. 

             In other words to send out sufficient warnings, not to panic people but to make people understand that anything you take, particularly on a long-term capacity, may have adverse effects.  And particularly taking other drugs - and that includes complementary drugs - at the same time.

QUESTION: So there was an opportunity to act earlier than today?

 GLASSON: Well, there was.  Obviously we were waiting for a response back from the Minister about this issue, just to see what the makeup of the National Poisons and Drug Committee is, and I suppose to see what guidelines they use when they decide about listing drugs for supermarket sale.  And to make sure, as I say, it keeps the interests of the patient and the health and the overall benefit of the patient at the forefront.

Ends