Co-Proxamol (Distilgesics).

[Ventorist11]

Is Co-proxamol completely removed from All British means of being prescribed it. I know it was withdrawn in 2006. Just curious as they said it is available on private prescription. Is it gone completely?.

[katieoxo60]

Sorry can't help on that question, but most people use co-codamol now not sure what the difference is . Its like some of the inhalers they are still available at hospitals but not on general prescription at chemists or GPs. Hope some one can throw light on your question later.

[Whowillgiveastuff in reply to katieoxo60]

CO-PROXAMOL IS CONTINUING TO BE PRESCRIBED TO THE CHOSEN FEW! THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PART OF MY OFFICIAL COMPLAINT TO AMANDA PRITCHARD (CEO NHS):

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MHRA had deliberately protected the identity of the importers from 19th August 2018 [FOI 20/549 - Ref: 18/458] until 4th November 2022 when the ICO intervened and ordered them to disclose the names.

Why does the NHS continue to spend millions on Co-proxamol when there have been direct alternatives available since 2007 for pennies?

During the 12 month period March 2020 — February 2021 NHS CCG'S squandered  £2,261,377 on Co-proxamol for just 9,906 prescriptions! This equated to the average prescription costing the NHS £228.28!

This situation continued during the period June 2021 to May 2022 NHS CCG's continued to pay the more exorbitant price spending £2,127,269 on Co-proxamol for 7,413 Items! Average cost per item £286.96

ALTHOUGH THERE WERE 2,493 FEWER ITEMS (PRESCRIPTIONS) ISSUED BETWEEN JUNE 2021 and May 2022 THE AVERAGE COST PER ITEM HAD INCREASED AGAIN!

A ‘Legal Precedence’ was set when MHRA licensed importers imported ‘DI-ANTALVIC’ as an alternative unlicensed medication which allowed slight variations in the formula for Co-proxamol IDIS in Dec 2007 and LEXON (UK) LIMITED in Oct 2008.

Formula Comparison:

Co-proxamol 32.5 mg Dextropropoxyphene 325 mg Paracetamol

Di-Antalvic 30 mg Dextropropoxyphene 400 mg Paracetamol

D Vic Capsules 30 mg Dextropropoxyphene 400 mg Paracetamol This exact alternative to Di-Antalvic has been available for import for a fraction of the price

I used to receive 160 Co-proxamol tablets per month prior to my prescription being rescinded during November 2015; the cost for 160 Di Vic capsules would be just £ 0.64 plus import and handling costs.

Med India Price for 160 Di Vic Capsules 64 IR = £0.64. IDIS Imported DI-ANTALVIC’ during December 2007 and LEXON (UK) LIMITED October 2008. These importers only came to my attention following the intervention by the ICO on 04th November 2022 when MHRA was ordered to disclose this information! [Refer to Appendix ’B’]

The 60,000 Named Patients who have lost their prescriptions since 2015 would have welcomed any of the close alternatives. D Vic could have been imported as an extremely cost effective alternative

IT’S APPARENT THAT CO-PROXAMOL OR EQUIVALENT REMAINS A MUCH NEEDED MEDICATION AS ALL THE REMAINING NAMED PATENTS THAT HAVE MANAGED TO FIND A CONSCIENTIOUS GP WHO IS WILLING TO CONTINUE PRESCRIBING THE BEST MEDICATION FOR THEIR PATIENT’s FOURTEEN YEARS AFTER THE BAN CAME INTO FORCE DISPITE THE ASTRONOMICAL COST TO THE NHS!

MHRA’s actions are responsible for the year on year Increases in the number of patients admitted for opioid poisoning since the ban on Co-proxamol was announced during 2005! There were 4891 admissions in 2005-06 reaching 12,254 in 2013, 7363 additional admissions!

Between 2005 and 2015 MHRA issued an additional 138 ‘Marketing Authorisations’ for the addictive and deadly drug Oxycodone.

Oxycodone was prescribed more than a million times in England (2012 – 2013), a rise of 39 per cent since 2010.

OXYCODONE PRESCRIPTIONS 2009/2010 - 788,607 2010/2011 919,177 2011/2012 - 1.01million 2012/2013 - 1.09million

The first OxyContin (Oxycodone) lawsuit to successfully procure a settlement came in 2007, despite this information being available prior to MHRA’s ban on Co-proxamol! MHRA issued a further 138 ‘Marketing Authorisations’ for Oxycodone between 2005 and 2015 which has seriously impacted patients health, safety, and wellbeing!

The basis for the federal OxyContin lawsuit alleged that the company had fraudulently encouraged over-prescription of the drug. As a result, OxyContin side effects could be traced to the company's actions. This OxyContin lawsuit distributed $130 million to victims of OxyContin addiction. (MHRA Banned Co-proxamol on 1st January 2008)!

OxyContin continued to be widely abused, and the maker of OxyContin painkillers reached an $8.3bn (£6.3bn) settlement and in March 2022 agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges to resolve a probe of its role in fuelling America's opioid crisis.

Purdue Pharma admitted the supply of drugs "without legitimate medical purpose"!

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