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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Mar 1965

Vol. 214 No. 12

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Phenacetin Drug.

2.

asked the Minister for Health whether his attention has been directed to the warning given by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland with regard to the dangers inherent in the indiscriminate use of the drug phenacetin; and whether he will take steps to ensure that this drug will in future only be available on medical prescription.

While I have not seen any formal statement from the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland in regard to phenacetin, I have seen the recent statement issued by the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and the press reports of comment thereon by persons connected with the Irish society mentioned.

In regard to the second part of the question, I have not, as yet, seen anywhere a suggestion that phenacetin, or substances containing it, should be sold only on medical prescription. Such a limitation is not proposed in a report which I have received from Comhairle na Nimheanna, and which I am considering at present, containing their views on the question of imposing restrictions on the sale of a wide variety of medical preparations, including phenacetin.

I might add that phenacetin, which, incidentally, has been in medical use since 1887, is used in this country almost exclusively as an ingredient in other medical preparations. Although, as the statement of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain points out, its occasional use is harmless, it would certainly be inadvisable for any person to take it, or any preparation containing it, regularly over any extended period or to give it to young children, except, of course, on medical advice.

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