Even as the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) is examining the rationality and continued marketing of the pain killer Spasmo Proxyvon, which contains an opoid dextropropoxyphene, the drug authorities in the North Eastern states are alarmed over the misuse of a similar brand – Parvon Spas manufactured by the New Delhi-based Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals.

The state drug control officials in Mizoram, with the support of the police, have seized 4200 capsules of Parvon Spas worth around Rs 7000, being sold illegally in the state in mid-March, 2010. The product, which is a similar combination of Spasmo Proxyvon manufactured by the Mumbai-based drug major Wockhardt Ltd, contains dextropropoxyphene hydrochloride 65 mg, dicyclomine hydrochloride 10 mg and paracetamol 400 mg per capsule. The regulators feel that the misuse of dextropropoxyphene combinations for intoxication, which has reduced in last two years, is once again in a rise.

The drug abusers either mix the powder from the capsule with water and inject it into the vein or swallow 10 or more capsules at a time to get intoxicated with these products. Many a time, the large particles remain after mixing with water will cause clotting of blood inside the body and the medical practitioners has to ampute the particular part (like hands and legs). The clotting in vital parts would result in death of the person immediately.

“The abuse of these Schedule H drugs is once again getting serious now. Earlier, in a period between 2004 and 2007, the mortality due to overuse of spasmo proxyvon was very high and we were successful to restrain the illicit trade of the product in last two years. Now, we are also monitoring presence of Parvon Spas in the illegal routes,” said Lalsawma Pachuau, assistant drug controller, Food & Drug Control Authority, Mizoram.

“The main reason for the illicit drug traffickers and users to switch over from Spasmo Proxyvon to another similar brand would be due to the wide publicity given to the former product for its possibilities for misuse as a narcotic product,” said Pachuau.

Chemists shop hardly sell the drug without prescription as there are strict monitoring by the authorities. The 4200 capsules were seized from an illicit drug trafficker after it has been transported from neighbouring state, Assam, by goods train. He added that some other states including Punjab have also seized Parvon Spas from illegal drug peddlers. The top official in the Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals was not reachable for comment immediately.

A top official from the Punjab drug control authoirity stated it has identified that various dextropropoxyphene combinations similar to spasmo proxivon, including Parvon Spas, were being misused in the state for intoxication and the office has seized such products several instances in the past.

As per the official report with the state drug control office, the misuse of the opoid analgesic has resulted in death of 395 people between 2004 and 2007 in Mizoram. In 2004, death due to misuse of dextropropoxyphene combination was 102, even as it was 89 in 2005, 73 in 2006 and 131 in 2007. The total death toll reported from the misuse of this drug reaches up to 535 in seven years between 2001 and 2007. Though not shared the data for the last two years ensuing 2007, the drug official said that the incidence related to the drug were very low when compared to these figures.

In March, 2010, the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dinesh Trivedi had informed the Rajyasabha that “the rationality and continued marketing of the drug Spasmo Proxyvon is under examination of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) in the context of present scientific knowledge about the utilities of the drug.” However, he added that the drug is permitted to be sold in the country on retail under prescription of Registered Medical Practitioner only.