The above cases all had serious complications such as high fever, rash, bleeding, acute liver failure, etc., and there have even been cases of death.
The products purchased by the above patients online, of unknown origin, are not licensed drugs. Most cases have a late onset, at least 1 week after starting to use products containing phenylbutazone, and symptoms may even appear after 1-3 months, making it difficult to find the cause of the allergy. The initial symptoms can be confused with those caused by infectious diseases. Therefore, the diagnosis time is prolonged, leading to a lack of early treatment intervention. The product name is often in a foreign language, and the patient cannot remember or correctly read the product name or active ingredient used.
Phenylebutazone-containing products purchased online by patients
PHOTO: DEPARTMENT OF DRUG ADMINISTRATION
Phenylbutazone is an anti-inflammatory drug that has been banned from circulation by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health since 2013 (according to Official Dispatch No. 2760/QLD-CL dated April 25, 2013). This drug has also been banned in many countries due to the risk of causing extremely serious, life-threatening allergic reactions such as: DRESS syndrome (high fever, rash all over the body, damage to the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs); Lyell syndrome (toxic epidermal necrolysis) causing the skin to peel like a severe burn; infection, multiple organ failure, high risk of death... The drug also causes bone marrow failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, acute kidney failure.
The Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health has just sent an official dispatch to health departments, requesting that all drug businesses and users and people absolutely not buy, sell or use drugs containing phenylbutazone. When discovering products containing phenylbutazone circulating on the market, it is necessary to immediately report to the health department and relevant agencies for timely handling according to regulations.
In addition, people should not arbitrarily buy medicine through word of mouth or through social networks; people should go to medical facilities for consultation, treatment, and buy medicine at legal drug retail establishments.
The Drug Administration also requires businesses to review and remove advertising information that is not in accordance with regulations about products containing phenylbutazone to avoid misunderstanding that this is a drug licensed for use in Vietnam, strictly implementing the provisions of the law on drug trading, especially regarding the origin of the drug. Note that the Department does not grant permission to import raw materials of phenylbutazone as well as finished drugs containing phenylbutazone.
Dr. Chu Chi Hieu, Head of the Allergy Department, Center for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Bach Mai Hospital, said: "In cases of severe drug allergies, in addition to taking a long time to fully recover, even after recovery, there is still a risk of recurrence (even if not exposed to the drug again) and many potential late complications later. Phenylbutazone is a banned drug because of the risk of causing serious allergies, multiple organ failure, and even death. The cases are the clearest proof. Therefore, people absolutely should not arbitrarily buy or use any medicine without a doctor's prescription."
Irresponsible behavior
Dr. Nguyen Hoang Phuong, senior physician, Director of the Center for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Bach Mai Hospital, warned: "Buying and selling banned drugs like phenylbutazone online is an irresponsible act that directly affects people's health and lives. We strongly condemn and call on the authorities to strictly handle all violators. People's health is not a commodity to be exploited." Dr. Phuong also asked people to resolutely "say no to drugs of unknown origin."
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