Fixed-Dose Combination : Banned
The Indian government has recently banned 156 Fixed-Dose Combination (FDC) drugs.
- Fixed-dose combination (FDC) drugs are medications that combine two or more Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) in a single dosage form, such as a pill, capsule, or injection.
- These drugs are often prescribed for conditions requiring multiple medications, such as tuberculosis, diabetes, and hypertension, to enhance patient compliance by reducing the number of pills taken daily.
- The rationale for the Ban: The banned FDCs were deemed “irrational” by the central government, as they do not provide any additional therapeutic benefits.
- The combinations in these FDCs may involve ingredients that either do not work synergistically or include unnecessary components that do not require simultaneous administration.
- FDCs can improve patient compliance, especially for chronic diseases where multiple medications are required.
- Some FDCs may include unnecessary components, leading to patients consuming drugs they don’t need.
- For example, Cheston Cold includes paracetamol, cetirizine, and phenylephrine, which are not necessary for treating bacterial infections but are used for managing cold symptoms.
- Banned FDCs: The recent ban includes various drug combinations:
- Gastrointestinal treatments: Enzyme combinations for digestive issues.
- Anti-allergy treatments: Combinations of levocetirizine with nasal decongestants, and cough syrups with mucus-breaking properties.
- Skin treatments: FDCs like menthol with aloe vera, and silver sulfadiazine with antiseptics.
- Migraine and menstrual pain: Combinations for treating migraines and menstrual cramps.
- Erectile dysfunction: Combinations involving sildenafil (Viagra) with other drugs affecting blood vessels and muscles.
