AboutDr. Ravindra Bhaskar Ghooi Expertise I can provide information on drugs and medicines, their actions, uses, interactions and adverse effects. To avoid confusion, generic names of
medicines may please be provided. I am a pharmacologist, having worked
on animal and human pharmacology, and presently I am the Dean of Bilcare Research Academy, where we teach courses on clinical research. We dont work on saturdays and sundays, hence questions reachng me on these days will be replied on Monday, please bear with me.
In India, various drug combinations are available for the dose convenience like AMLOPRESS AT ( atenolol 50 + amlodipine ) LOSAR BETA ( LOSARTAN 50 + ATENOLOL 50 ) and the like. But I notice that in US or UK, drugs are available in single that is no combination available except HYZAAR or AVALIDE. What is the exact position whether to continue taking combination or to take it individually i.e atenolol separately and amlodepine separately. In that event number of pills will be more. Is the drug combination like the one I quoted irrational. I need your guidance.
Answer Hi Harsvadan,
The question of irrational drug combinations has been debated repeatedly at the National Drug Advisory Board and the Drug Consultative Committee. An organisation called Society for Rational Drug use has been working on trying to rid the country of such drugs.
Abroad unless the combinattion has been clinicall tested and proved to be superior to single drugs the combination is not allowed. In India the combination is allowed if the manufacturer can convince the authorities to grant a licence.
I agree with you totally, there are many combiantions that are illogical, but there is hope because the drug authorities are examining each combiantion with care.
Ravi Ghooi
