Concern over rampant abuse of lab-grade glycerine in AP

VIJAYAWADA: Abuse of laboratory-grade glycerine by pharmaceutical firms while making several medicinal formulations and by doctors when treating patients is becoming rampant in Andhra Pradesh.

There is high possibility of lab-grade glycerine containing impurities like diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which can cause renal failure and even death. Its uncontrolled use could thus pose serious health hazards.

Significantly, diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol had been present in the cough syrup manufactured by a Haryana-based pharmaceutical company, after consuming which 66 children had died in Gambia, causing an international uproar.

Pharmaceutical grade glycerine costs just ₹13 for 100 ml, while costs of lab-grade glycerine are much higher. Yet, certain pharmaceutical firms that manufacture lab grade glycerine in large quantities push their glycerine into the market to make huge profits. Firms do not have to comply with scrupulous norms while preparing lab-grade glycerine, unlike the one meant for pharmaceutical purposes.

Doctors also use laboratory-grade glycerine as lubricant in procedures like endoscopy. It is also utilised to bring down pressure in eyeballs while treating glaucoma patients. There are several other medical procedures in which lab-grade glycerine is used.

A senior drugs control administration official said, “We are noticing misuse of lab-grade glycerine by both pharmaceutical firms and individual doctors. The impurities present in this glycerine could turn lethal, like in Gambia’s case. We appeal to all stakeholders not to misuse laboratory-grade glycerine, as it affects the health of people.”

Following the Gambian deaths, drugs control administration in AP has issued a circular to forthwith stop usage of all drugs made by the Haryana-based firm. It has instructed distributors to recall these drugs from the market before they cause any harm to patients.

Drugs director general S. Ravi Shankar Narayan has directed officials to ensure that drugs manufactured by pharmaceutical firms are free from impurities. They must also check all liquid orals in the state to ensure that only pharmacopeial grade polyethylene glycol and sorbitol have been used in formulations.

The director general warned manufacturers that strict action will be taken against them in case they use industrial / food grade excipients that have not been tested for impurities. He asked officials to complete their campaigning against such impurities by October 31 and submit reports by November 7.