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viewpoints TRAVELLERS WARNED AGAINST CLIOOUINOL 'Patients planning to travel abroad should be warned against antidiarrhea remedies purchased outside the United States'. This warning is primarily aimed at the drug clioquinol (iodochlorhydroxyquin) ('Entero-Vioform', Ciba, and others) which is widely used and sold for the treatment of 'traveller's diarrhoea', but is no longer available in the United States. Until about 1970 it was considered a safe drug with few side effects. But it was than associated with subacute myelo-optic neuropathy (SMON) [see lnpharmaNo 11: p2 (8 Nov 1975) and Inpharma No 14: piS (29 Nov 1975)] in Japan where it has sub- sequently been banned. Clioquinol is sold in at least 40 countries under 33 different brand names, and in many countries is sold over the counter. Package inserts vary but all include a list of indications - traveller's or unspecified diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, colitis, or digestive disorders associated with diarrhoea. However, in some cases no contra-indications, side effects or warnings are given. Medical Letter 17: 105 (19 Dec 197 5) ! NPHARMA 17th january, 1976 p2

TRAVELLERS WARNED AGAINST CLIOQUINOL

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TRAVELLERS WARNED AGAINST CLIOOUINOL

'Patients planning to travel abroad should be warned against antidiarrhea remedies purchased outside the United States'.

This warning is primarily aimed at the drug clioquinol (iodochlorhydroxyquin) ('Entero-Vioform', Ciba, and others) which is widely used and sold for the treatment of 'traveller's diarrhoea', but is no longer available in the United States. Until about 1970 it was considered a safe drug with few side effects. But it was than associated with subacute myelo-optic neuropathy (SMON) [see lnpharmaNo 11: p2 (8 Nov 1975) and Inpharma No 14: piS (29 Nov 1975)] in Japan where it has sub­sequently been banned. Clioquinol is sold in at least 40 countries under 33 different brand names, and in many countries is sold over the counter. Package inserts vary but all include a list of indications - traveller's or unspecified diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, colitis, or digestive disorders associated with diarrhoea. However, in some cases no contra-indications, side effects or warnings are given.

Medical Letter 17: 105 (19 Dec 197 5)

! NPHARMA 17th january, 1976 p2