Karnataka Drugs Control department has denied the sale of Tamiflu or oseltamivir phosphate drug for swine flu at any of the 15,000 retail and wholesale outlets in the State. But investigations revealed that when its drug inspectors enquired over phone on the availability of 'Tamiflu', the chemists at several outlets confirmed its availability. This was because of a similar sounding drug 'Tamflo' manufactured by Sun Pharma and prescribed for the prostrate gland disorders.

Following the DCGI advisory note as per the Gazette notification (SO526E) stating that no manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers should undertake the sale of any preparation containing oseltamivir phosphate, the Karnataka Drugs Control dept carried out extensive surprise checks at the retail outlets across the 27 districts in the state. To begin with, the drug inspectors spoke to chemists on the phone and the latter confirmed having the stocks but on physical examination it was found that the drugs stocked was 'Tamflo' 0.4 Capsules [Tamsulosin HCl 0.4mg (Modified Release)] and in 0.2 mg strength prescribed for prostrate gland disorders. "Therefore no Tamiflu drugs or its generic versions are available in the pharmacy outlets in the state and we are constantly on the check," Dr BR Jagashetty, Karnataka drugs controller, told Pharmabiz.

This confusion was caused by similar sounding names of drugs, added the State drugs controller.

There are no reports of swine flu in India although there is fear in the country. The DCGI's advisory note to all the state drugs control offices comes in to prevent the indiscriminate use of Tamiflu for the swine flu epidemic by the public as it could result in the developing resistance to the virus in India, said Dr Jagashetty.

On the issue of similar sounding drug names which have known to cause mix ups, the government is yet to finalize pending Pharmaceutical Policy which has taken note of the same, informed DA Gundu Rao, president of Karnataka Pharmacy Council and president, Karnataka Chemists and Distributors Association.

The State Pharmacy Council chief has been constantly bringing to the notice of regulatory authorities about the seriousness of similar sounding drug names and also about the brands with frequent changes in composition. For instance, pain killer Tandrel is now out of market and replaced by Suganril. But Suganril has changed its composition from Oxythenduthazone to Paraxon with no prior notice to the regulators or the chemists. Another drug also for pain management 'Esgipyrin' has changed its formulation thrice and now contains Amenopyrine. Such practices prevail only in India as international regulators are making efforts to ban such brands for at least six years before it is re-launched under a new name, added Rao.

According to the US Pharmacopoeia, there are over 2,000 drugs with names so similar. These include chlorpropamide (used to treat type-II diabetes) instead of 75 mg of chlorpromazine daily (used to treat psychotic disorders), Flomax for prostrate disorders instead of Volmax for bronchospasm, Clozapine instead of Olazapine for schizophrenia, iodine and Lodine which is a NSAID, Methadone instead of Methylphenidate anti psychiatry drug.