Medicines banned in some countries but allowed in others

Medical products (drugs, medicines, vitamins, medicines) are mentioned for informational purposes only. We do not recommend using them without a doctor’s prescription. Recommended reading: “Why can’t you take medications without a doctor’s prescription?”. In the West, treatment according to international protocols is considered mandatory for doctors of almost all specialties. Such guidelines are developed on the basis of many years of experience, confirmed by numerous studies. This approach allows you to “screen out” ineffective medications, to abandon those that carry more potential danger than benefit.

In Ukraine, Russia and the CIS countries, there is a slightly different approach, although many protocols have already been introduced into the medical system. But still, doctors continue to use a lot of medicines that are prohibited in the US and Europe. What are these drugs, and what are the reasons for their ban in the West – we will understand in this article.

Analgin

The most popular drug among Ukrainian, Russian and patients from neighboring countries. It is taken for headache, toothache, when the stomach aches. There are those who bring down the heat with this remedy.

More recently, analgin turned 100 years old, and half of this time it is banned for use in the United States and European countries. In 1970, WHO recommended that everyone should refuse it, arguing this with several facts at once:

• mortality after taking analgin is 7% – this is a fairly high rate;
• tablets are not allowed for children under 12 years of age, pregnant and lactating women;
• a drug based on metamizole sodium has many side effects: from unpleasant tinnitus to a sudden jump in temperature with the formation of painful blisters on the skin;
• there is a high probability of agranulocytosis – a decrease in the number of granulocytes and leukocytes in the blood. As a result, immunity drops greatly, and a person becomes vulnerable to various bacterial and viral infections, fungi. Such patients have to be kept under sterile conditions to protect them from danger. Lethal outcome is possible in 80% of cases. And if the patient survives, then it is difficult to fully restore his health. ^[1].

Despite this danger, analgin can still be freely purchased in Ukrainian, Russian, Belarusian pharmacies, as well as in the CIS countries.

Phenobarbital

Corvalol, Barboval, Valocordin – such drops, and now also tablets can be found in the medicine cabinet of almost any elderly person. But they are popular not only among pensioners, many young people are trying to cope with tachycardia, anxiety, heart pain, insomnia, taking these drugs.

Unlike the countries of the former USSR, the United States and Europe have long banned all drugs based on phenobarbital. And despite the fact that Valocordin is a product of a German pharmaceutical company, it is produced exclusively for import. The Germans themselves do not use it now and do not sell it to most European countries.

The main reason for the prohibition of drugs with such a component is that phenobarbital is a representative of the group of barbiturates, that is, psychotropic substances. Its constant and long-term use is addictive – drug addiction. And this effect that a person feels after taking Corvalol or Barboval can be compared with euphoria. In other words, all unpleasant symptoms recede while phenobarbital is present in the body. As soon as it is removed, anxiety, insomnia, pain in the heart return.

Barbituric addiction is a fairly serious condition, so as long as these drugs are not banned in all countries, you should be careful with them. And even better – completely abandon the use, because all the symptoms that the drug based on phenobarbital supposedly “treats” can be overcome with other safer medicines. ^[2].

Levomycetin

Levomycetin tablets are a popular remedy that patients independently use to treat diarrhea in children and adults. They are inexpensive, in addition, the drug can be purchased at any pharmacy without a prescription. But using levomycetin, no one thinks about the consequences of self-medication. Such an antimicrobial agent is not at all as safe as it might seem. Due to the large number of side effects dangerous to human health, the release of levomycetin in oral dosage forms is prohibited in the United States. It can only be found in eye drops or topical ointments.

And there is a reason to ban chloramphenicol tablets. This antibiotic, the active substance of which is a representative of the amphenicol group – chloramphenicol, is dangerous for its side symptoms:

• negative effect on the central nervous system – confusion, depression, hearing and vision impairment;
• oppression of the hematopoietic system. After taking levomycetin, severe anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, granulocytopenia may occur;
• irritation of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity (glossitis), a disorder of the digestive system.

Considering that it is not prohibited in Russia, Ukraine and the CIS countries, patients should take it only in extreme cases, when there is no alternative treatment.^[3]

Cerebrolysin, Phenibut, Sermion and Other Nootropics

Nootropics are a group of medicines that affect the central nervous system. They are used to improve memory, concentration, increase mental activity. Also indications for the use of nootropics are neurosis, asthenia, withdrawal syndrome in alcoholism, Meniere’s disease. And for children, such drugs are prescribed for enuresis, stuttering, nervous tics. However, not all over the world have a similar attitude towards nootropics. In Australia, they are completely banned for use, with the exception of a few active ingredients that are included in dietary supplements. In the US, the situation with nootropics is similar, although some drugs are still used in official medicine. For example, they are prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, Alzheimer’s disease. But it is impossible to purchase such drugs without a prescription – everything is strictly controlled.

In the United States, it is illegal to manufacture and sell drugs that include:

• DMAA;
• Fenibut;
• Octodrine;
• Vinpocetine;
• Racetam drugs (piracetam, phenylpiracetam, oxiracetam and others).

The reason for the prohibition of all these drugs is that they can be addictive, and side effects of use are anxiety, nervousness, sleep disturbances. At the same time, it is easy to purchase drugs based on phenibut in any pharmacy in the post-Soviet space. ^[4]

Nimesulide

When a patient comes to a Ukrainian or Russian pharmacy with a toothache or after visiting a dentist, he is often offered bags of Nimesil. This drug perfectly copes with painful sensations, has an anti-inflammatory effect. It would seem an excellent remedy, but in many countries nimesulide preparations are prohibited. They cannot be used in the USA, Finland, Ireland, Belgium, Spain. The fact is that this tool is effective, but not at all harmless. There are cases that after using the remedy for several days in a row, patients needed a liver transplant. Nimesulide is hepatotoxic, although the mechanism of this effect is not fully understood.

Until it is banned everywhere, you should be especially careful and in no case should it be used by children. ^[5]

No-shpa, drotaverin

The most famous antispasmodic under the trade name “No-shpa” can only be purchased in Eastern Europe and parts of Asia. In other countries, the drug is banned, especially among pregnant women. Germany, the USA, Great Britain recognized preparations based on drotaverine as dangerous, since there are studies stating that taking No-shpa by pregnant women can cause speech delay in children.

In addition, the active substance drotaverine has a vasodilating effect, therefore it is dangerous for hypotensive patients, because it can reduce blood pressure to critical levels. And most importantly – an overdose of the drug can cause serious poisoning, and in some cases, death. So in 2016, having exceeded the maximum dose by 4 times, after taking No-shpa, the Russian chess player Ivan Bukavshin died.^[6]

ephedrine and pseudoephedrine

In Thailand, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine have been added to the list of prohibited substances. They belong to the drugs with a psychotropic effect, although they are part of several cough syrups. In Russia, Ukraine and several other Eastern European countries, preparations based on them can be purchased by prescription at a pharmacy. The most famous is Bronholitin, which is prescribed for both children and adults for coughing.

Such information is especially relevant for tourists, because the possession and use of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine provides for criminal liability for up to 5 years. Going on a trip, it is better to stock up on another cough medicine.^[7]

The mustard

In the West and in the USA, mustard plasters were abandoned a few years ago. According to some evidence, the main reason for this is the risk of developing melanoma. This theory has not been fully confirmed, but neither American nor European doctors recommend the use of mustard plasters.

In Russia, Ukraine, CIS countries, they can be easily found in any pharmacy and purchased without a prescription. Mustard plasters are used to treat colds, flu, back pain, and sometimes to reduce pressure. It is believed that they warm and increase blood circulation, thereby relieving inflammation and activating the immune system. But in fact, there is no benefit from mustard plasters. They heat only where they are placed, and this effect is provided by mixing water with sinigrin, which is found in mustard seeds. As a result, allyl isothiocyanate is formed, which causes a feeling of warmth on the skin. But if you keep mustard plasters on the skin for a long time, then a burn is possible.

Assessing the effectiveness of this method of treating a cold or flu, it can be argued that it can only work like a placebo, because mustard plasters do not warm up so deeply that they really heal. And with bronchitis, pneumonia, they are completely contraindicated.^[8]

Aspirin

“American aspirin” is a phrase from the late 90s and early 2000s. Many wanted to get it at their disposal, because it was believed that such a medicine in the USA is used for everything, and it is of excellent quality. Today, aspirin is not banned in America, but under very strict control. It is prescribed to a greater extent by cardiologists to prevent the formation of blood clots, after heart surgery. But there are also countries where aspirin is banned: Bangladesh, Turkey, India. And all because the remedy has a lot of serious side effects: the development of peptic ulcer and diseases of the kidneys, liver, disruption of the heart, the risk of bleeding.

In Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, aspirin is taken by many, and often to reduce the temperature. It is sold in pharmacies without a prescription.

Not prohibited, but not used drugs

There are several other medicines that are not actually banned, but are not used in the West either. One of these means is an alcohol solution of brilliant green, popularly referred to as brilliant green. Neither in the USA nor in Europe this remedy is classified as official medicine. The reason is simple – the mechanism of action of brilliant green has not yet been studied, and the effectiveness has not been confirmed. Given that Western medicine is based on evidence, such drugs simply do not stand a chance.

A similar situation has developed with Validol. American and European doctors do not recommend it to patients. The reason is similar – there is no evidence base for the effectiveness of validol.

Information about what is prohibited and what is allowed from medicines in different countries is not only for comparison. It will be relevant for travelers who take a first aid kit with them. The list of prohibited medicines should definitely be taken into account in order not to have problems when crossing borders.

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