Ethiopia bans codeine drug

Ethiopia Today

The Ethiopian Food, Medicine and Health Care Administration and Control Authority (FMHACA) has announced a ban on the drug codeine which is used for pain relief.
The authority said in a statement on Thursday that the ban followed a study conducted on the drug by the U.S Food and Drug Administration.

The study had concluded that users of the drug usually contract respiratory depression and a genetically inherited enzyme.

Codeine does not fit the Ethiopian genetic makeup and the research discovered that it could even cause death.

In its research, the U.S Food and Drug Administration found that 35 Ethiopians out of 122 that used codeine to relieve pain were found with other side-effects that were injurious to their health.

FMHACA Drug Registration and Licensing Director, Abdulqadir Weliy said the authority has been assessing drugs that cause harm to the public.

According to him, the authority has disposed of drugs, including Diazepam, Tetanus, Lignocian, vaccines and Cyclophosphamide, which do not meet the quality and safety standards but were made available in the market.

Source: http://en.starafrica.com/