asked the Minister for Health his views on the group of drugs known as non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs which are used for arthritis sufferers in Ireland and which, according to a professor of rheumatology at Bristol University, are of great concern as they could be contributing to progressive disease and damage; and if he will consider withdrawing Indomethsein, Naproxen, Ibutrofen, Diflunisal and Piroxican, all of which are still on sale in Ireland.
Written Answers. - Withdrawal of Drugs.
184.
I assume the Deputy is referring to an article in the Sunday Times of 25 October 1987 by the medical correspondent, Neville Hodgkinson, in which he quotes Professor Paul Dieppe of Bristol University.
The National Drugs Advisory Board advises me on matters concerning the safety, quality and efficacy of drugs on the Irish Market. In regard to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the board have reviewed the data available on the use of NSAIDS in animals. Some of these data indicated that under experimental conditions using high concentrations 30-50 times higher than the does used in humans the drugs are capable of inhibiting cartilage bone response to weight bearing strain and to the stress of fracture healing. The effects have been shown to vary with species, with the individual animal and with the particular area of bone cartilage interface.
However, no evidence has emerged to date to suggest that these effects play a significant role in the condition of humans with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis on long term treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Nevertheless, the possibility of such a role cannot be dismissed altogether and the National Drugs Advisory Board undertakes a regular review of reports of studies undertaken to investigate the possible long term effects of drugs such as the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
The drugs in question are of benefit in alleviating arthritic pain and at this time, there is no evidence which would support the withdrawal of the products from the market.