E-drug: Phenylpropanolamine (cont)
---------------------------------------------
I happened to read the Regulatory Affairs Journal today in which it said
under news from Greece that the regulatory authority there had reclassified
phenylpropanolamine (norephedrine) and put under the Narcotics Act.
This shows clearly how heterogenous countries are in classifying drugs (as
well as in giving market authorisations). I think I once mentioned this in
a discussion about donations. In many countries I have been to in Eastern
Europe pseudoephedrine is classified under the narcotics act. As both
pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine (norephedrine) are even OTC
in e.g. USA, you find that donors send products containing these
substances without considering that they may be scheduled differently
in the recipient country - thereby creating problems for the
recipient (in addition to the fact that they are of no medical value).
In Norway phenylpropanolamine is found in one product, Rinexin, which is on
prescription only. Indication: Rhinitis and sinusitis, allergies in the
upper respiratory tract with swelling, and certain forms of urinary
incontinence. We do not have on the market any ephedrine-containing
products to be used as appetite stimulants.
Regards
Kirsten Myhr, MScPharm, MPH
Bygd�y alle 58B
0265 Oslo, Norway
Tel.: +47 22 56 05 85, +47 22 24 90 09
fax: +47 22 24 90 17
myhr@online.no
--
Send mail for the `E-Drug' conference to `e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.
Mail administrative requests to `majordomo@usa.healthnet.org'.
For additional assistance, send mail to: `owner-e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.