India bans 16 fixed dose drug combinations over safety concerns
India has just banned 16 fixed-dose drug combinations (think mixes of antibiotics, antispasmodics, and some skin creams) over safety concerns.
The move comes after years of review by an Expert Committee, the Drugs Technical Advisory Board, and a DTAB Sub-Committee, which found these combos either didn't have enough evidence to back them up or weren't really needed.
Topical and antibiotic combinations lacked evidence
Some well-known combos, like Amoxicillin and Serratiopeptidase and Cefuroxime and Serratiopeptidase, got the ax because there's no solid proof they work.
Others, like Dicyclomine and Paracetamol and Clidinium Bromide (for stomach pain), were called out as unnecessary.
Even popular topical mixes with aloe vera or vitamin E didn't make the cut due to lack of therapeutic justification and, where relevant, poor definition and characterisation.
The main goal: keep medicines safe and effective for everyone.