Popular painkiller Meftal should be used wisely and with extra care: Advisory issued for consumers

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) warned the public on Thursday about Meftal, a popular pain reliever. The medication contains mefenamic acid, which can cause adverse responses like DRESS syndrome and other conditions, therefore users should only use it after speaking with a doctor. Meftal is a medication that is often prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis and menstrual cramps.

The advise suggested that people use the Android mobile applications ADR PvPI and PvPI Helpline No. 1800-180-3024, or submit a form on the website www.ipc.gov.in, to inform the national coordination center of the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) inside the commission.

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission's warning coincides with Meftal's fast rise to popularity as a household pain reliever, with people taking it carelessly to relieve joint and muscular aches.

Medicine is used to treat menstruation and Muscular pains

Mefenamic acid is the main ingredient in Meftal. It is a pain reliever used to treat menstruation as well as muscular and joint pain. It also works well in relieving muscle aches, nerve discomfort, and sore throats.

Meftal medication is known to cause DRESS syndrome

A distinct and severe idiosyncratic reaction to a medicine, known as the Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) syndrome, has a prolonged start period. It was connected to drugs including lamotrigine, allopurinol, and abacavir. It then presents with a wide range of clinical symptoms, usually fever, rash, lymphadenopathy, eosinophilia, and mild to severe systemic signs, according to Dr. Sidhant Goel of The Hans Foundation in Nalagarh.

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Based on multiple research, the estimated fatality rate of DRESS syndrome is 10%, making it a serious risk to one's life. Antiepileptic drugs such as phenytoin and phenobarbital are the most common culprits linked to DRESS syndrome; their incidence rate is roughly 1 per 5,000 to 10,000 exposures.

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