# \[e-drug\] Re: Phenylbutazone availability (cont)

**URL:** <https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-re-phenylbutazone-availability-cont/11311>\
**Category:** e-drug\
**Created:** [May 16, 2001, 7:36pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-re-phenylbutazone-availability-cont/11311 "2001-05-16T19:36:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Dinesh\_Mehta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@Dinesh\_Mehta](https://talk.edrugplus.org/u/Dinesh_Mehta)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 7:36pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-re-phenylbutazone-availability-cont/11311/1 "2001-05-16T19:36:00Z")

</div>

E-drug: Re: Phenylbutazone availability (cont)  
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[2 messages in one. KM]

In the UK phenylbutazone is marketed as Butacote. Here's the licensed  
indication for the product taken from the summary of product characteristics  
(revised in November 1998):

\<\<Ankylosing spondylitis. Butacote should only be used where other therapies  
have been found unsuitable.\>\>

The British National Formulary ([http://BNF.org](http://BNF.org)) considers phenylbutazone  
'less suitable for prescribing' (i.e. it should not generally be used as a  
first-line treatment). The BNF draws attention to the possibility of blood  
dyscrasias with this drug. It includes the following information on it:

\<\<PHENYLBUTAZONE

Indications: ankylosing spondylitis when other therapy unsuitable

Cautions: blood counts before and during treatment if for more than 7 days;  
elderly (reduce dose); breast-feeding; allergic disorders (see also under  
Contra-indications), withdraw if acute pulmonary syndrome including fever  
and dyspnoea; see also notes above; interactions: Appendix 1 (NSAIDs)

COUNSELLING. Warn patient to tell doctor immediately if sore throat, mouth  
ulcers, bruising, fever, malaise, rash, or non-specific illness develops

Contra-indications: cardiovascular disease, pulmonary, renal and hepatic  
impairment; pregnancy; history of peptic ulceration, of gastro-intestinal  
haemorrhage, inflammatory bowel disease, or of blood disorders (including  
coagulation defects); history of hypersensitivity precipitated by aspirin or  
other NSAIDs (see also below); porphyria (section 9.8.2); Sj�gren's  
syndrome; thyroid disease; children under 14

HYPERSENSITIVITY. NSAIDs are contra-indicated in history of hypersensitivity  
to aspirin or to any other NSAID--which includes those in whom attacks of  
asthma, angioedema, urticaria or rhinitis have been precipitated by aspirin  
or any other NSAID

Side-effects: see notes above; also parotitis, stomatitis, goitre,  
pancreatitis, hepatitis, nephritis, visual disturbances; rarely leucopenia,  
thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, aplastic anaemia, Stevens-Johnson  
syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, pulmonary toxicity

Dose: initially 200 mg 2 - 3 times daily for 2 days, with or after food,  
then reduced to minimum effective, usually 100 mg 2 - 3 times daily; CHILD  
under 14 years not recommended\>\>

Dinesh Mehta  
BNF  
dinesh@easynet.co.uk

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UK Availability:

Phenylbutazone restricted for use in ankylosing spondylitis.  
No limit on duration of treatment, but only available from hospital  
consultants.

Alistair Bolt  
Norfolk & Norwich Hospital  
UK  
Norfolk and Norwich NHS Trust  
alistair.bolt@norfolk-norwich.thenhs.com

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