RIYADH, 10 August — The head of the pharmacies division in the Batterjee Group, distributors of Baycol Lipobay in the Kingdom, has announced that the cholesterol-lowering drug will be withdrawn from the Saudi market following reports of 31 deaths in the United States.
Dr. Khutub Imam, the chief pharmacist in the Batterjee Group, said both the products — Lipobay and Gemfibrozil — would be taken off the shelves of all pharmacies.
The announcement came even as Dr. Saleh Bawazir, advisor to the minister of health for medicinal affairs, told Arab News that Bayer must withdraw the two drugs blamed for numerous side-effects and fatalities when used in combination.
A random check with pharmacies here showed that the drugs were still available, however, as no instructions had been issued by the Health Ministry over the weekend. The drugs are still being sold over the counter.
Asked about his experience with Baycol Lipobay, Dr. Khalid Khader, consultant cardiologist at the Riyadh National Hospital, told Arab News: “I have used Baycol Lipobay without any problems for reducing LDL cholesterol. I did not, however, use Baycol in combination with Lopid 600 (gemfibrozil).”
According to Dr. Khader, Lipobay was being prescribed for bringing down high cholesterol levels.
He said Lopid 600 is used only when the level of triglycerides in the blood is very high.
