IPC flags side effects of heart, Glaucoma medicines

Last Updated on July 6, 2024 by The Health Master

IPC

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), a leading drug standards body in India, has issued a crucial drug safety alert regarding two commonly prescribed medicines: amlodipine and acetazolamide.

This alert highlights potential adverse reactions associated with these drugs, urging healthcare professionals and patients to exercise caution.

Amlodipine: Potential for Lichenoid Keratosis

Amlodipine, widely used for managing heart conditions like coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and preventing stroke, may cause lichenoid keratosis.

This is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by rough, scaly patches that typically appear on the forearms, hands, chest (particularly in middle-aged women), or sun-exposed areas.

Key Points about Amlodipine:

• Treats and prevents various heart ailments.
• May cause lichenoid keratosis, a skin inflammation.
• Lesions commonly appear on forearms, hands, chest, and sun-exposed areas.

Acetazolamide: Risk of Choroidal Effusion/Detachment

Acetazolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, is a medicine commonly used to treat glaucoma.

However, the IPC alert suggests a potential link to choroidal effusion or detachment.

This condition involves fluid buildup within the choroid layer of the eye, which can impact vision.

Key Points about Acetazolamide:

• Used for treating glaucoma, a condition affecting eye pressure.
• May lead to choroidal effusion or detachment, causing fluid buildup in the eye.

Recommendations for Healthcare Professionals and Patients

• Healthcare Professionals: The IPC advises healthcare providers to diligently monitor patients for potential adverse drug reactions (ADRs) while administering amlodipine and acetazolamide.
• Patients: Individuals taking these medicines are encouraged to closely monitor themselves for any signs of the mentioned ADRs.

Potential Packaging Updates and Ongoing Monitoring

The IPC alert may lead to stricter regulations.

Pharmaceutical companies manufacturing these drugs might be required to include warnings within the packaging, clearly informing patients and doctors about the potential adverse events.

Basis of the IPC Warning

The IPC warning is based on a preliminary analysis of data collected through the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) database. This program continuously monitors and reports on ADRs associated with various medicines.

Disclaimer: This article contains information derived from the source mentioned below. Our team utilized an AI language model to rewrite and present the news or article in a unique format.

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