The Union health ministry may lift the ban on pain-killer drug Analgin as the high powered Drugs and Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) of the ministry has once again recommended for the continued use of of the drug as per the approved indication.

In the DTAB meeting held on November 25, the members pointed out that the duration of treatment of Analgin is only for few days and therefore the committee recommended that the use of Analgin may be continued as per approved indication at present i.e. severe pain or pain due to tumour and also for bringing down the temperature in refractory cases when other antipyretics fail to do so.

Earlier on June 18 this year, the union health ministry had banned the popular pain-killer drug Analgin, along with two other drugs - anti-diabetes drug pioglitazone and anti-depressant deanxit - on the grounds of patient safety as the ministry was of the view that the use of Analgin and all formulations containing Analgin was likely to involve risk to human beings and also safer alternatives to the drug were available in the market.

Ever since, there has been a hue and cry against the ban on pioglitazone and Analgin as there was a feeling that the ban was not based on proper scientific data. On public demand, the ministry later revoked the ban on anti-diabetic drug pioglitazone, but did not act on Analgin.

The DTAB, the highest decision-making body in the union health ministry on technical matters, in its meeting held on July 19 this year reviewed the ban on pioglitazone and Analgin. After detailed discussions on the matter, the DTAB recommended to the government to lift the ban on pioglitazone and left the issue of Analgin to the health ministry to take a final call.