Banned anti-diarrheal drug available for another quarter
By Hina Kiyani

Islamabad—The Drugs Registration Board, Ministry of Health cancelled the registration of anti-diarrheal drug "Kaolin Pectin" on March 4 2008, but in the meantime has extended the consumption of its available manufactured stocks till June 30, 2008, according to a statement issued by TheNetwork for Consumer Protection in Pakistan.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have banned the manufacturing of all anti-diarrheal drugs containing Kaolin Pectin because of lack of efficacy. Instead paregoric-containing medications have been replaced by equally or more effective and safer agents for the treatment of diarrhea.
Drugs Registration Board in its 211th meeting decided for withdrawal / cancellation of drugs registration of all the formulations containing "Kaolin Pectin" for lacking efficacy under Section 7 (11) of Drugs Act, 1976.
Dr. Talib Lashari Executive Coordinator TheNetwork for Consumer Protection in Pakistan, appraised the decision by the Drugs Registration Board for banning an ineffective drug prescribed for diarrhea, a common disease amongst all ages. Meanwhile Dr. Talib Lashari has expressed concern over the permission granted to marketing authorization holders of the drugs containing Kaolin Pectin which permits consumption of the available stocks, already manufactured, till 30th June, 2008. He reasoned out that if Kaolin Pectin is prescribed then because of inefficacy people can not get well, especially children of under-five years of age, therefore continuity of this drug may further enhance the prevalence of diarrhea.
Dr. Talib Lashari emphasized while quoting the Section 7 (12) of Drugs Act, 1976 which defines that the provincial government shall take all such steps as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the condition subject to which a drug is registered and to prevent the manufacture or sale of the drug if the registration of which has been cancelled or stands suspended. Dr. Talib Lashari also advised doctors not to prescribe this medicine to patients.