More nannying - Painkillers.
Discussion
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4221829.stm
So, the government has banned Coproxamol (Distalgesic) because it's been used in suicides. There is no link to the actual medication CAUSING suicide, it's just that because it's an effective painkiller and is widely used, it happens to be around when people feel suicidal.
Yet another example of HM government completely missing the point. Once Coproxamol is banned, the next most popular painkiller will become more commonly used in suicides.
Hello!!!!
I genuinely despair for this country. There are now going to be people forced to use a less effective/more harmful painkiller because some lentilist wanted to protect us from ourselves.
FFS if this lot carry on, I'm going to commit suicide with an MP. Perhaps we can ban them then
The BBC said:
Painkiller scrapped over suicides
Image of pills
The drug has been linked with suicides
A popular painkiller is being withdrawn from the UK market over concerns about links with suicide.
Co-proxamol, used by thousands for conditions such as back pain, will be phased out over the next year or two.
People do not need to come off the drug yet, and should discuss their treatment with their GP, said the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
Charities criticised the move saying it left many patients with very few options of effective pain relief.
Suicide risk
The MHRA is sending letters to GPs informing them of the decision.
There is no need for panic or concern.
Chairman of the CSM Professor Gordon Duff
What will relieve my pain now?
Data shows fatal overdoses due to co-proxamol are the second most frequent means of suicide with prescribed drugs in England and Wales, accounting for up to 400 deaths each year.
The risk of death associated with co-proxamol overdose seems to be higher than for either tricyclic antidepressants or paracetamol.
The drug is a combination analgesic containing paracetamol and the opioid dextropropoxyphene and is available only with a prescription.
But some say co-proxamol is no better than full strength paracetamol at relieving pain and is known to be very toxic in overdose.
For this reason, the Committee on Safety of Medicines, an independent expert body that advises the government on medicines, was asked to look at the risks and benefits of co-proxamol.
Bad news
Measures have already been taken to address concerns about the medicine, including making advice more prominent on the packaging.
But they have failed to reduce the number of fatalities, according to experts.
Chairman of the CSM Professor Gordon Duff said: "Co-proxamol will be phased out of the market place gradually to give patients time to discuss their treatment with their doctor and change to a suitable alternative.
"There is no need for panic or concern and if patients have been taking co-proxamol continuously for a long time they should not stop without consulting their doctor."
Neil Betteridge, of Arthritis Care, said the move was bad news for people with arthritis, particularly given the recent safety concerns about other painkillers such as COX-2 inhibitors.
"The withdrawal of co-proxamol leaves many people with very few options for the safe and effective management of their pain.
"Although we understand the MHRA's concern, we are of the view that a stringent package of prescribing advice, packaging changes and other warnings should limit the risks of co-proxamol being misused," he said.
A spokeswoman from the Arthritis Research Campaign said: "Co-proxamol is a very effective and much safer than some of the other painkillers.
"It's incredibly bad news."
It is estimated that 1.7 million GP patients per year receive 7.5 million prescriptions for co-proxamol.
So, the government has banned Coproxamol (Distalgesic) because it's been used in suicides. There is no link to the actual medication CAUSING suicide, it's just that because it's an effective painkiller and is widely used, it happens to be around when people feel suicidal.
Yet another example of HM government completely missing the point. Once Coproxamol is banned, the next most popular painkiller will become more commonly used in suicides.
Hello!!!! I genuinely despair for this country. There are now going to be people forced to use a less effective/more harmful painkiller because some lentilist wanted to protect us from ourselves.
FFS if this lot carry on, I'm going to commit suicide with an MP. Perhaps we can ban them then
I can see a trip to my GP looming. 
I am prescribed co-proximal for arthritis - usually manage to munch my way through about 100 every six months or so but at one stage I was getting through this amount in a month. Most of the time I take them at night. I can put up with the pain during the day but sometimes it is impossible to sleep through it.
I have an asprin allergy which rules out all NASAID type drugs and co-proximal was one of the few drugs that didn't put me into anaphalaytic shock but was strong enough to blank out some of the pain.
Think the NHS are going to have to cough up for some extensive allergy testing for me now.
Just coz some people get addicted or use them to commit suicide.
I am prescribed co-proximal for arthritis - usually manage to munch my way through about 100 every six months or so but at one stage I was getting through this amount in a month. Most of the time I take them at night. I can put up with the pain during the day but sometimes it is impossible to sleep through it.
I have an asprin allergy which rules out all NASAID type drugs and co-proximal was one of the few drugs that didn't put me into anaphalaytic shock but was strong enough to blank out some of the pain.
Think the NHS are going to have to cough up for some extensive allergy testing for me now.
Just coz some people get addicted or use them to commit suicide.
NOooooooo! This is the best (legal) drug I've ever had. Like being really nicely caned but without having to smoke and the effects last for hours. I can't remember the last time I was so 'loved-up' by something a chemist gave me... (well, apart from my ex who was a pharmacist but that's a long story and from a fair while ago). 
S Works said:
NOooooooo! This is the best (legal) drug I've ever had. Like being really nicely caned but without having to smoke and the effects last for hours. I can't remember the last time I was so 'loved-up' by something a chemist gave me... (well, apart from my ex who was a pharmacist but that's a long story and from a fair while ago).
Irie Mon, sounds like some good shit!
The stuff on watchdog was more exciting, something in hair dye. It was a phenyl-amine if I remember rightly,
super toxic. Will they ban hair dye. No chance! 
zetec said:
co-proxamol banned because its been used in suicides?
Paracetamaol is used in suicides. FFS just about any drug (if taken irresponsibally) can lead to suicide.
I know!
Lets ban all drugs?
lol - yeah - with alcohol and tobacco waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay down the list
Don't see what all the fuss is about, personally. I mean, it's just a hellish creature on a flying part-dragon motorcycle with circular saws for wheels, it's not like it's a dangerous everyday occurence. I think the paranoia really is beginning to run this country, and it's not good, is it?
S Works said:Too right mate - they are a great drug for getting high on - I can see why some people get hooked on them. But I guess that those people who get addicted would probably get hooked on something else if co-proximol wasn't available.
NOooooooo! This is the best (legal) drug I've ever had. Like being really nicely caned but without having to smoke and the effects last for hours. I can't remember the last time I was so 'loved-up' by something a chemist gave me... (well, apart from my ex who was a pharmacist but that's a long story and from a fair while ago).
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff