E-DRUG: Nimesulide follow-up
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Dear E-druggers,
A few weeks ago, I was in the office of my overall head of (Pharmacy) department who doubles as the institutions procurement officer for pharmaceuticals and met a bottle of a locally branded paediatric nimesulide suspension on her table apparently dropped by a med rep.
I first inquired if she had not procured the product (being aware that we were already stocking and dispensing the solid dosage form) and she assured me of not having done so. I then cautioned her against doing so, since its prolonged use in our paediatric patients might expose them to undue risks of developing severe/fatal hepatotoxic and other adverse reactions, citing references from the recent e-drug communication. She promised to heed my advice.
I was greatly delighted, and hereby wish to thank all contributors to the nimesulide issue for making such a valuable intervention possible and particularly to the editor for providing a suitable and convenient platform for my proper education.
You will better appreciate my joy in the light of the possibility of prolonged use in our environment being quite high, given the intensive and largely difficult-to control promotional efforts of pharmaceutical companies representatives and the vulnerability of our doctors who enjoy rather unlimited clinical freedom to prescribe products of their choice coupled with patients propensity to continue purchasing medicines, without further physician consultation, from community drug outlets once they have been medically introduced to such products and found them effective, not minding any possible untoward effect.
My best regards to you all!
Olutayo Adetokunbo Moronkeji,
Pharmacist
OAUTH Wesley Guild Hospital
Ilesa, Nigeria
oamoronkeji@yahoo.com
[Glad to hear that you and E-drug are making a difference! WB]