Antibiotic prescription needs both moderation and informed counseling

April 8, 2019
Wrong antibiotics can stimulate bacteria instead of killing them
healthy soch
New Delhi, April 08, 2019 :

More than 150 combination drugs have been found to lack therapeutic justification and have been recommended to be banned by an expert panel, as per sources. A panel led by Chandrakant Kokate was probing the efficacy of about 500 fixed dose combinations (FDCs) drugs and submitted its report to the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) on 2 April 2019. It has suggested that many fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) are irrational and hence recommended them to be banned.

Therapeutic benefits of many combination medicines sold in India are suspected to be doubtful and some may even pose health risks, prompting the government to launch a crackdown on such “irrational” drugs. The government banned 344 such combination drugs in 2016.

Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee, Dr KK Aggarwal, President, HCFI, said, “In recent years, drug makers have increasingly been blending fixed doses of this medicine with fixed doses of other diabetes drugs that attack the disease differently. A study has also noted that the five top-selling fixed dose combination pills in India account for 500 different brands. Clinical trials demonstrating safety and efficacy of these FDCs are not publicly available. Indian patients taking these combinations should discuss with their clinicians before making a switching to a different agent. Bioequivalence studies are conducted to establish that two medicines, normally the original patented drug and a generic version, have the same biological equivalence – that is, that they work the same way, to the same extent and for the same purpose. Bioequivalence to the innovator product helps prove a drug’s safety, clinical efficacy equivalence and cGMP compliance on continuous basis for sustainable supply.”

www.healthysoch.com

Drugs banned in 2017 include: FDCs of nimesulide + levocetirizine; fixed dose combinations of ofloxacin + ornidazole injection; FDCs of gemifloxacin + ambroxol; FDCs of glucosamine + ibuprofen; and FDCs of etodolac + paracetamol.

Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, who is also the Group Editor-in-Chief of IJCP, said, “The wrong antibiotics can stimulate the bacteria or other microorganisms to fight back instead of killing the germs. This is possible due to either spontaneous DNA mutations or transfer of resistant genes between them. We are on the verge of a post-antibiotic era where many of the antibiotics to which bacteria have developed resistance may become obsolete and there may no longer be any cure for many common infections which once again may take their toll on human life like in the pre-penicillin era.”

Some tips from HCFI

When prescribing antibiotics, clear instructions should be given to the patient about no refill of antibiotic prescription without the signature of the doctor. The role of antibiotics should be discussed in an informed counseling. Apart from this, doctors should not prescribe antibiotic cover or prophylactic antibiotic without a high degree of clinical suspicion. No antibiotics should be prescribed for small bowel diarrhea, fever with cough and cold, dengue, chikungunya, malaria and fever with rashes. However, early initiation of antibiotics is the rule in suspected sepsis bacterial pneumonia meningitis and confirmed tuberculosis cases.

healthysoch

Stay informed with the latest news from HealthySoch. Sign up today for exclusive insights and updates!

We promise we never spam!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Health Tips

Dr. T S Kler Padma Bhushan Awardee
MD, DM, MRCP, FRCP(U.K), FACC, D.Sc
Chairman – Fortis Heart Institute Gurugram

Precautions to avoid Corona Virus:

  1. Stay home as far as possible.
  2. Wash hands with soap and water frequently.
  3. Keep distance from people even your home members.
  4. Keep atleast 1-2 metres away from anybody coughing.
  5. Don’t touch your face, nose and mouth.

 

Dr. K.K Says

Archives

MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
    123
45678910
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
26272829   
       
891011121314
293031    
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
25262728293031
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
3031     
     12
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
2627282930  
       
1234567
891011121314
22232425262728
293031    
       
     12
3456789
17181920212223
24252627282930
       
  12345
6789101112
       
  12345
13141516171819
2728     
       
      1
9101112131415
3031     
   1234
567891011
       
282930    
       
    123
45678910
       
  12345
27282930   
       
      1
3031     
    123
11121314151617
       
28      
       
2930     
       
    123
       
       
       
      1
9101112131415
3031     
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
242526272829 
       
  12345
13141516171819
2728293031  
       
      1
23242526272829
3031     
    123
       
    123
25262728   
       
78910111213
28293031   
       
293031    
       
14151617181920
28293031   
       
   1234
567891011
       
   1234
567891011
262728    
       
891011121314
293031    
       
    123
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
  12345
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
16171819202122
3031     
    123
45678910
18192021222324
       
28293031   
       
     12
31      
   1234
       
  12345
6789101112
       
HealthySoch

Don't Miss

Inhaled Nitric Oxide Kills SARS-COV-2 virus

Joint study by Amrita Hospital and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Using
Heartburn vs heart attack - Dr. T S Kler, Padma Bhushan awardee

Heartburn vs Heart Attack – Dr. T S Kler, Padma Bhushan awardee

New Delhi, April 26, 2017: Chest discomfort, pain, shortness of