Centre Bans 156 “Cocktail” Drugs For Fever, Pain, Cold

New Delhi: The Union government has banned 156 popular fixed-dose combination (FDC) drugs also known as ‘cocktail’ drugs. These medicines are mostly used for fever, cold, allergies and pain. They were banned as they are “likely to involve risk to human beings”.

According to a gazette notification issued by the Union health ministry on August 12, the government has banned ‘Aceclofenac 50mg Paracetamol 125mg tablet’, one of the popular combinations used as pain-relieving medicines manufactured by top pharma companies.

The list also includes Mefenamic Acid Paracetamol Injection, Cetirizine HCl Paracetamol Phenylephrine HCl, Levocetirizine Phenylephrine HCl Paracetamol, Paracetamol Chlorpheniramine Maleate Phenyl Propanolamine and Camylofin Dihydrochloride 25 mg Paracetamol 300mg.

The Centre also banned the combination of Paracetamol, Tramadol, Taurine and Caffeine. Tramadol is an opioid-based pain killer.

An Expert Committee appointed by the Centre found these FDCs as “irrational”.

The Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) also examined these FDCs and recommended that “there is no therapeutic justification for the ingredients contained in these FDCs”.

“The FDC may involve risk to human beings. Hence in the larger public interest, it is necessary to prohibit the manufacture, sale or distribution of this FDC under section 26 A of Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940,” the notification read.