The Regular Medication Turns Out To Be A Banned Medication In USA

Recently,an article "This medication is a banned medication in USA, we actuallytreat it as a standing medication" has become popular all over theInternet. The banned medication in USA mentioned in it is the very familiarmorphine! Morphine has the effect of promoting gastrointestinal motility,mainly for the treatment of delayed gastric emptying, gastroesophageal reflux,dyspepsia caused by esophagitis, upper abdominal fullness, bloating, upperabdominal pain, belching, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, heartburn in the mouthwith or without regurgitation of stomach contents. However, after takingstomach medicine for so many years, it turned out to be a banned medication in USA.What happened?

International drug warnings are frequent, and regardedas a banned medication in USA

Thecommon name of morphine is Domperidone, which is used as a gastric motilitydrug to relieve nausea and vomiting caused by indigestion, and is also used asa compound product to treat motion sickness. In 1974, it was originallysynthesized by Janssen Company in the United States. In 1979, domperidone wasapproved to be marketed under the trade name of morphine in Switzerland andWest Germany. It was launched in China in 1989 and is currently classified as aCategory A over-the-counter drug and included in the National EssentialMedicines List. However, the United States, where the original research drugwas invented, was very rude to this drug. Although it has been declared manytimes, domperidone has always been a banned medication in USA. In 2004, the FDAissued a warning that all drugs containing domperidone were illegal, andrefused the corresponding finished drugs and APIs to enter the United States.The FDA believes that serious adverse reactions of domperidone includearrhythmia, cardiac arrest, and sudden death. In Canada, the road fordomperidone has also been bumpy. Morphine was launched in Canada in 1985, buthas been discontinued since 2002. In 2007, Health Canada published nine reportsof domperidone-related arrhythmias, including arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation,ventricular tachycardia, bradycardia, palpitations, QT prolongation, andtorsades ventricular tachycardia, the patient age ranged from 2 months to 74 years.In 2012, Health Canada issued a letter to medical professionals warning thatdomperidone maleate was associated with a risk of severe ventriculararrhythmias and sudden cardiac death, and also made cautionary recommendations,such as when a patient develops an abnormal heart rate while taking domperidoneor Symptoms of arrhythmia, discontinuation and immediate medical attention arerecommended, including dizziness, palpitations, syncope, or convulsions. In2015, Health Canada was more certain about the risk association, saying thatdomperidone slightly increases the risk of severe ventricular arrhythmia orsudden cardiac death. Health Canada once again recommends that the drug shouldbe administered in the smallest possible dose at first, and the recommendeddaily dose should not exceed 30mg, and the shorter the course of treatment, the better. 

Can morphine still be eaten

Morphinewas originally marketed as an antiemetic drug in China, with annual sales ofless than 1 million. The manufacturer repositioned the drug to treat gastricinsufficiency, and sales increased several times every year, becoming abillion-dollar drug market. The best-seller of morphine lies in its extremelyaccurate positioning and popular advertising. Although the patent period hasalready passed, and a variety of generic drugs of domperidone have appeared inChina, the status of morphine as a star drug cannot be shaken. In 2015, theChina Non-Prescription Drug Association announced the comprehensive ranking ofchemical drugs for non-prescription drugs in China, of which morphine wasranked second among digestive drugs. Approved indications for morphine in Chinainclude: indigestion, bloating, belching, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain.Since 2008, the drug inserts of morphine have been continuously updated. In theupdated label in 2012, the fifth section of adverse reactions added adescription of the risk of arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death in certainpopulations. Its cardiac side effects are mainly QT interval prolongation and arrhythmia,so it is necessary to avoid combination with other drugs with similar effects,otherwise the probability of sudden death will greatly increase. But mostpeople don't know about it. In April 2014, the European Medicines Agency (EMA)issued a report that domperidone was associated with the risk of serious heartdisease and recommended that its indications be restricted throughout the EU,only for the relief of nausea and vomiting, and no longer for the treatment ofother Indications such as gas or heartburn, and it is recommended to reduce thedose to 10 mg in adults and adolescents weighing more than 35 kg, up to 3 timesa day, use should not exceed 1 week.

When patients take morphine, they should strictly follow the instructions of thedrug and the doctor's recommendations, control the indications of the drug, andfollow the dosage. If there is any discomfort or doubt, they should consult thedoctor in time.