Painkiller meftal may have adverse effect on health ; govt issues alert 

In a recent drug safety alert, the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) advised patients and healthcare providers to keep an eye out for any side effects related to the painkiller Meftal, which is frequently prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis and menstrual cramps.

Meftal, containing mefenamic acid, is used to treat a variety of ailments, including fever, inflammation, mild to moderate pain, dysmenorrhea, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PVPI) database was the source of a preliminary analysis of adverse drug reactions that led to the Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) syndrome, as reported in the alert released by the commission on November 30.

According to the alert, users of the suspected drug should closely monitor the possibility of the above mentioned adverse drug reaction (ADR) as they use the meftal painkillers.

If people experience such reactions, they are urged to report the issue to the commission’s national PVPI coordination center. This can be completed by submitting a form via the ADR PVPI Android mobile app, the PVPI Helpline No. 1800-180-3024, or the website www.ipc.gov.in.

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), an independent body under the Ministry of Health, sets guidelines for all medications produced, marketed, and used in India.