Painkiller Meftal can lead to ‘adverse’ reaction, alert issued

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has issued a drug safety alert urging healthcare professionals and patients to monitor adverse reactions associated with the painkiller Meftal, commonly prescribed for menstrual cramps and rheumatoid arthritis. Meftal, containing mefenamic acid, is used for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, dysmenorrhea, mild to moderate pain, inflammation, fever, and dental pain. The commission’s alert highlighted adverse drug reactions from the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) database, revealing cases of eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome.