Is Saridon safe?

Do you take meds when you have headache? Or you just sleep it away to get rid of it? Do you think it is really effective? There is very little information about the safety and effectiveness of Saridon.


Photo from blog-ph.com

What is Saridon? According to wikipedia, Saridon is an analgesic combination indicated for the management of headache. The currently global base formulation contains 135 mg of propyphenazone, 260 mg of paracetamol and 55 mg of caffeine. The combination is designed and said to produce effective analgesia with fast onset of action in 15 minutes, as compared to paracetamol, ibuprofen, or aspirin alone.

I have read a discussion about this topic and got very curious about one of its content that appears to be unsafe – propyphenazone. In its advertisements, this drug is being marketed as clinically proven safe, and effective pain reliever for headache, toothache, and even muscle pain. This pain killer distributed by Bayer is now reaching our country  (especially in Visayas and Mindanao) and is being sold in a very affordable price.

A lot of questions popped into my mind when this drug has been banned in some countries like Sri Lanka, Korea, Malaysia, and Turkey. If this drug is really safe, then, why was it banned to some countries?

I have researched and found an article which lists the hazards of this drug:

Nausea, low fever, vomiting, stomach ache, loss of appetite, dark urine, tarry stool, yellowing of the skin or eyes. And also there are allergic reactions, chest pain, and difficulty in breathing, swelling of the throat, lips, tongue and face.

For me, everything you take in excess is bad. Drugs should be avoided as much as possible. It would be alarming if this is really harmful and being sold here in the Philippines, where there’s a big tendency of people who would choose to buy affordable drugs. DOH and the manufacturer should take action on this as this might affect the health of the many. I would also appreciate if the manufacturer would release more information about this drug online so that potential users can make their own research first before using the product.

Last Updated on 9 years by Carizza

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Carizza

Comments

8 responses to “Is Saridon safe?”

  1. Micah Perez

    nice information. i do take drugs when i have headache.

    Reply
  2. Fione Del Rosario

    i am not familiar with saridon and never knew it existed here in the country.

    Reply
  3. popazrael

    its the most effective drug to beat headaches
    they already changed formulation during the 80s, so its safe to take this med.

    Reply
  4. Flora Chua

    wag na lang magtake para sure

    Reply
  5. Sarah Jane Park

    this is an interesting read. if it is already safe then why is it still banned?

    Reply
  6. Kath Rivera

    I took Saridon months ago kasi grabe talag headache ko. Kahit 1000mg ng biogesic hindi effective. Wala naman ako na experience na negative taking Saridon. Most of the time naman I'm taking dolfenal 500mg.

    Reply
  7. angelamhiere

    Ok naman Saridon… My dad-in-law introduced it to me. Very effective for me. Kasi, pag nilagnat ako, may times na nagchi-chill ako and sobrang taas talaga fever ko. When I take it, sandali lang, baba na agad fever ko… =)

    Reply
  8. healthmedph

    Saridon was among the phenacetin-containing drugs recalled back by the US FDA in 1983. Today, instead of phenacetin, the reformulated Saridon contains propyphenazone, a derivative of phenacetin.

    It is currently being marketed as a painkiller containing a “triple-action formula that’s clinically proven to work faster and better without sacrificing safety.” But recent research shows that this doesn’t seem to be the case.

    20 adverse reactions to Saridon have been reported to Lareb, a Dutch Pharmacovigilance Center. 16 of these were interpreted as harmful allergic reactions; with 10 identified to be possibly fatal. In its fatal form, Saridon could induce dizziness, loss of consciousness, labored breathing, swelling of the tongue and breathing tubes, blueness of the skin, low blood pressure, heart failure and even death.

    http://www.lareb.nl/LarebCorporateWebsite/media/publicaties/kwb_2004_2_sarid.pdf

    Reply

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