Drug Safety Alert: IPC Warns About Side Effects of 5 Common Drugs

Summary: The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has flagged serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) linked to five common medications. Learn about the risks and what healthcare professionals should monitor.

IPC Flags Serious Side Effects of Popular Medications

Did you know your common medications might have unexpected side effects? The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has issued a drug safety alert for March, highlighting adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with five widely used medicines: Metronidazole, Luliconazole, Dalteparin, Gliclazide, and Tramadol. This warning comes after a review of reports from the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI).

1. Metronidazole: Skin Reaction Alert

Prescribed for: Amoebiasis, trichomoniasis, and giardiasis
Risk: Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis (AGEP)
AGEP is a severe drug-induced skin reaction causing sudden

Pus-filled lesions
Redness
Fever
High white blood cell count

2. Luliconazole: Potential Cause of Melasma

Prescribed for: Fungal infections like tinea pedis, tinea corporis, and tinea cruris
Risk: Melasma (Chloasma)
Melasma causes brown or grayish patches on the face, often triggered by

Sun exposure
Hormonal changes

3. Dalteparin: Muscle Spasms Reported

Prescribed for: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and preventing blood clot recurrence in cancer patients
Risk: Muscle spasms
Patients using Dalteparin should be cautious of unexpected muscle contractions or pain

4. Gliclazide: Risk of Erythema Multiforme

Prescribed for: Type 2 diabetes (with or without obesity)
Risk: Erythema Multiforme (EM)
EM is a painful skin disorder with

Red, target-like lesions
Possible mouth sores

5. Tramadol: Fixed Drug Eruption (FDE) Concern

Prescribed for: Severe acute and chronic pain, post-surgical pain
Risk: Fixed Drug Eruption (FDE)
FDE leads to recurrent, sharply defined dark red skin lesions that reappear in the same location each time the drug is used.

What Should Healthcare Professionals and Patients Do?

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare urges doctors, pharmacists, and patients to closely monitor these ADRs. If any of these reactions occur, they should be reported to the National Coordination Centre – PvPI (NCC-PvPI, IPC) via:

ADR PvPI App (Android)
PvPI Helpline: 1800-130-3023 (Toll-Free)
Online Reporting: IPC Website

Stay Safe, Stay Informed

Drug safety is a shared responsibility. Always consult your doctor before stopping any medication and report any unusual symptoms immediately.

Inputs from various media sources

I am an MBBS graduate and a dedicated medical writer with a strong passion for deep research and psychology. I enjoy breaking down complex medical topics into engaging, easy-to-understand content, aiming to educate and inspire readers by exploring the fascinating connection between health, science, and the human mind.