The Delhi government’s Department of Drugs Control has written a letter to the president of All Chemist Associations of Delhi to avoid sale of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like Aspirin, Ibuprofen and Diclofenac, without a prescription from a regular medical practitioner. In the letter, controlling authority official K R Chawla said there is a likelihood of an increase in cases of vector-borne diseases, owing to monsoon, and close monitoring is required. Doctors said unmonitored use of such drugs can prove to be fatal for patients of vector-borne diseases. The department advised retail chemists to refrain from over-the-counter sales of these medicines immediately. “They (chemists) are also advised to keep records of stocks of painkiller drugs falling under this category. Stringent action will be taken against retail chemists found flouting this advice,” the letter said. An official from the drugs control department said such an advisory is issued annually. It is more relevant this year because of the recent flood in Delhi, the official said. According to Dr Rommel Tickoo, director of internal medicine at Max Super Speciality Hospital in Saket, during the season of vector-borne diseases, over-the-counter NSAIDs can decrease platelet count: “Painkillers should be avoided and the only thing one can take is paracetamol for fever. Even if the fever is high, they should not take any other drug and consult a doctor immediately. Painkillers. can lead to drop in blood platelet count, gastritis and kidney failure.” Dr Tickoo said he saw 5-6 dengue patients in the last 4-5 days, out of which one was shifted to the ICU and was in shock. “It’s known as dengue shock syndrome. and can be fatal if not treated. He had extremely high haemoglobin. He also had multiple organ failure. Had he been not admitted, it could have turned fatal. He was in the ICU for six days. Apart from that, there have been routine cases of fever, nausea, vomiting, etc,” he added. At Lok Nayak Hospital’s fever clinic, 59 patients have been admitted due to dengue since January.
