Dextropropoxyphene is dead? Long live....

Authors

  • Anthony G Beeton

Keywords:

Dextropropoxyphene, withdrawn,

Abstract

On 20 April 2011, the Medicines Control Council (MCC) announced its decision to withdraw all dextropropoxyphene-(DPP-) containing products from the South African market within three months, because of stated safety risks and an insufficiently weighted risk-benefit profile. These risks refer to dose-related cardiac conduction abnormalities associated with QT prolongation, provoked by the main metabolite of DPP, norpropoxyphene. Cases of fatal arrhythmias have been described.

Author Biography

Anthony G Beeton

Anaethetist Private Practice

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Guest Editorial