![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2012, at 21:09:15
Seems Europe is calling for the withdrawal of all mepbrobamate containing meds including those in muscle relaxants soma here. I think silly as I took it first with valium in 70's at 400mg I think and just stopped it one day no withdrawal at all no side effects. Just got well so stopped it. Phillipa
From News Alerts > Medscape Medical News
EMA Calls for Withdrawal of Certain Anxiety Medications
Caroline CasselsAuthors and Disclosures
Posted: 01/20/2012
January 20, 2012 The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is recommending suspension throughout the European Union (EU) of all medicines containing meprobamate, a key ingredient in some anxiolytic medications.The Agencys Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has concluded that the benefits of meprobamate do not outweigh its risks and that all marketing authorizations for oral medicines containing meprobamate be suspended throughout the EU.
A carbamate deriviative, meprobamate is used primarily to treat anxiety disorders, but according to the EMA, it is also used for migraine, digestive disorders, muscle tension or cramps, as well as insominia. It is marketed under the name Equanil and other trade names.
The EMA review of the meprobamate-containing medications was undertaken because of a July 2011 announcement by France's regulatory agency that it intended to suspend marketing authorizations of these agents because of "serious side effects."
After reviewing all available safety and efficacy data of the medications, including data from published studies, postmarketing surveillance, and poison control centers, the CHMP concluded that "there was a risk of serious and potentially fatal side effects, such as coma, in patients taking meprobamate-containing medicines under normal conditions of use. The Committee considered that these risks were increased due to the danger of unintentional overdose because of the small difference between the treating dose and the dose that can harm patient, including elderly people."
The CHMP also noted that there is a risk of addiction that can lead to "serious and sometimes fatal side effects" if patients stop the medication abruptly.
The final word on whether these medications are ultimately to be banned in Europe will be determined by the European Commission.
To avoid the risk of severe withdrawal symptoms and to ensure that prescribers have enough time to determine the most appropriate treatments for individual patients, the Committee has recommended that the withdrawal of the medicines from the market be carried out gradually, within 15 months of the European Committee decision.
In the meantime, the EMA recommends the following:
Doctors should not start new patients on meprobamate-containing medicines.
Doctors should review the treatment of patients currently taking meprobamate-containing medicines with a view to switching them to alternative treatments, in line with national recommendations for the condition being treated.
Prescribers should be aware that the availability of meprobamate-containing medicines will decrease as the withdrawal from the market takes place according to national time frames.
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 20, 2012, at 22:04:29
In reply to EMA Calls For W/D Market Mepbrobamate In All Anxie, posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2012, at 21:09:15
I don't get it. What's the big deal? I mean, if I was a doctor, I wouldn't give elderly and/or overmedicated people meprobamate, just because its sedating and not as "clean" as benzos. But ban it? Really?
Posted by SLS on January 21, 2012, at 5:27:01
In reply to Re: EMA Calls For W/D Market Mepbrobamate In All Anxie, posted by Christ_empowered on January 20, 2012, at 22:04:29
> I don't get it. What's the big deal? I mean, if I was a doctor, I wouldn't give elderly and/or overmedicated people meprobamate, just because its sedating and not as "clean" as benzos. But ban it? Really?
I hate to see tools disappear.
I don't know enough about meprobamate to place a medical value on it, but it seems to be used often enough to motivate drug companies to keep making it. Mother's Little Helper?
- Scott
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 21, 2012, at 10:39:13
In reply to Re: EMA Calls For W/D Market Mepbrobamate In All Anxie, posted by SLS on January 21, 2012, at 5:27:01
The thought occurred to me...maybe part of the problem is that a lot of the current patients have been on it forever and are now older and having problems? That might explain the deaths and what not. Still...a ban? I have heard that its an excellent muscle relaxer. Sad to see docs lose a useful medication for "safety's sake."
Posted by Phillipa on January 21, 2012, at 18:57:54
In reply to Re: EMA Calls For W/D Market Mepbrobamate In All Anxie, posted by SLS on January 21, 2012, at 5:27:01
Sure worked as a Mother's little helper for me age 24 with the valium. Just didn't need it anymore. Also my infection control doc gave me soma haven't taken it but it's related to above med. Phillipa
Posted by ed_uk2010 on January 31, 2012, at 8:49:59
In reply to Re: EMA Calls For W/D Market Mepbrobamate In All Anxie, posted by SLS on January 21, 2012, at 5:27:01
It's very rarely used here anyway. It would be more sensible for the EMA to simply forget about it and concentrate on the safety of drugs which are actually prescribed to more than a handful of patients.
Genus sell meprobamate in the UK. Sales are extremely low but they keep it on the market by selling at a high price. A few 'old ladies' still take it. The major effect of removing it from the market will be to cause disruption and distress to those who are dependent on it. No new patients are prescribed meprobamate here and carisoprodol (Soma, Carisoma) was discontinued years ago. This is truly a pointless move by the EMA. I suppose doctors will transfer most patients on to a low dose of diazepam.
> > I don't get it. What's the big deal? I mean, if I was a doctor, I wouldn't give elderly and/or overmedicated people meprobamate, just because its sedating and not as "clean" as benzos. But ban it? Really?
>
> I hate to see tools disappear.
>
> I don't know enough about meprobamate to place a medical value on it, but it seems to be used often enough to motivate drug companies to keep making it. Mother's Little Helper?
>
>
> - Scott
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.