Elisa Menendez
LETHAL painkiller Nolotil could be on the ropes as health bosses in Madrid are set to decide on nationwide action next month.
A campaigner, leading an investigation into the drug, revealed she has finally secured a meeting with Spain’s top medication governing body.
It comes after the Costa del Sol’s main hospital also confirmed to the Olive Press that it was ‘aware’ of adverse reactions among northern Europeans.
Last year, the Olive Press launched a campaign, “Kill the Drug”, after many readers revealed how their loved ones had died after taking it.
Health campaigner Cristina Garcia del Campo, based in Alicante, is now to take her findings to the Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios (AEMPS) in Madrid.
For months, she has been tirelessly gathering case studies of Anglo Saxons who have suffered or even died at the hands of the commonly prescribed painkiller, also known as Metamizol.
“This is the one and only chance to get results,” she told the Olive Press, “This is the highest authority and the only one with the power to ban medicines.”
As a final push, the legal and medical translator is urging expats and holidaymakers to come forward immediately if they know anyone who has suffered severe side effects from the drug.
She added: “I want to take a very strong case to Madrid. This means no case history must be missed. It would be really helpful for people to email me medical reports of serious cases or deaths.
“If I have good reports to take with me, it will be impossible for the AEMPS to doubt anything I say.
“If we miss out on getting this resolved now, you will never be sure whether you are going to be given this painkiller at some point.”
Until now, Garcia del Campo has been targeting individual hospitals in Spain in a bid to alert the authorities.
A spokeswoman from Hospital Costa del Sol, in Marbella, told the Olive Press it is ‘aware of the findings of adverse reactions in British citizens’.
She refused to elaborate on whether action was being taken at this stage.
It comes after the campaigner’s findings prompted a large Alicante-based health network, Marina Salud, in Denia, to issue an official warning in April.
It advised staff against administering the painkiller to Anglo Saxons and Scandinavians.
Anyone who has been affected by Nolotil is urged to contact Cristina before June 29, by filling out a form available to download at https://jumpshare.com/v/yuhCtW9SYF0ws7hRQgdU and email it to cristinadrugresearch@gmail.com.
