Medicines containing dextropropoxyphene are being withdrawn from the New Zealand market after a review showed that their risks outweighed their possible benefits.
The medicines containing it are analgesics used to treat chronic moderate pain. There are two approved for use in New Zealand -- Paradex tablets and Capadex capsules.
After reviewing the available evidence, the Medicines Adverse Reactions Committee (MARC), which advises the Minister of Health on medicines safety issues, concluded that they were no better at treating pain than taking full dose paracetamol.
They could also cause additional side effects to those caused by paracetamol used at recommended doses, and were dangerous in overdose, or if they were taken with alcohol.
Medsafe group manager Stewart Jessamine said the withdrawal would be gradual to allow time for the safe transfer of patients to alternative treatments.
Medicines containing dextropropoxyphene have been withdrawn in several other countries, most notably the United Kingdom.
The European Medicines Agency and Singapore have recently announced that they are also withdrawing these medicines.
When dextropropoxyphene was withdrawn in the United Kingdom it was replaced with other pain killers, mostly by paracetamol alone, codeine alone, or a combination of codeine and paracetamol.
Dr Jessamine said any patient who was currently being treated with Paradex or Capadex should continue to take their medicines.
Those who regularly take them would need to see their GP to discuss alternative treatment options.
