Healthy Skepticism Library item: 11205

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Publication type: news

NPS Prexige advice
Pharmacy Daily (Australia) - registration required 2007 Aug 15
http://www.pharmacydaily.com.au

Full text:

NATIONAL Prescribing Service has issued new prescribing advice for health professionals relating
to last weekend’s urgent recall of Novartis’ lumiracoxib (PD Mon).

The withdrawal, due to reports of liver complications from patients taking the NSAID, has seen the TGA advise patients to stop taking Prexige immediately and to discuss alternative treatments with their doctors.

NPS is advising health professionals that paracetamol is preferred as a first line analgesic to NSAIDs “because it is an effective analgesic and has a lower risk of adverse effects”.

NPS ceo Dr Lynn Weekes said health professionals need to bear in mind the patent’s risk of all
adverse effects, adding that “people at high risk of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and renal adverse effects should avoid using an NSAID if possible.

“If an NSAID is used, it should be at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible duration
to minimise the risk of adverse effects,” she added.

More information is available from NPS on 1300 138 677.