The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has issued a drug safety advisory, urging healthcare professionals and patients to closely monitor potential adverse reactions associated with the painkiller Meftal.
Widely prescribed for menstrual cramps and rheumatoid arthritis, the mefenamic acid-based painkiller is commonly used to address rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, dysmenorrhoea, mild to moderate pain, inflammation, fever, and dental pain.
In its alert, the commission highlighted a preliminary analysis of adverse drug reactions sourced from the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) database, revealing instances of drug reactions associated with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome.
The alert emphasizes that healthcare professionals and patients/consumers should vigilantly monitor the potential occurrence of the aforementioned adverse drug reaction (ADR) associated with the use of the suspected drug.
In the event of such a reaction, the advisory recommends promptly reporting the matter to the national coordination centre of the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) under the commission.
As an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Health, the IPC establishes standards for all drugs manufactured, sold, and consumed in India.