RIYADH, 18 August — The King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh has warned the public against using 14 medicines that are currently on sale at the Kingdom’s pharmacies and hospitals.
It said the tablets are likely to cause heart, kidney and liver complications and negatively affect respiratory system.
Dr. Saleh Al-Demas, consultant for chest diseases and intensive care at the hospital, told Arab News that the tablets that have dangerous side effects include Pseudoephedrine, Propadine, Cortizon, Prozac, Tenormine, Inderal, Theodore, Etiphan, Xanax, Rivotril, Halison, Falium, Seroxate and Paxel.
He said Pseudoephedrine tablets are usually prescribed to treat acute asthma or rheumatic inflammation, while Prozac is used to treat depression. All the other tablets are mainly used to reduce appetite and cause insomnia, which affects the proper functioning of the heart, kidney, liver and respiratory system.
Meanwhile, a technical fault in the electricity system of Sahari Chest Hospital in Riyadh led to a nine-hour-long power cut. Patients admitted to the hospital, especially those in the intensive care unit, were shifted to other hospitals in the city.
The long power cut, caused by a technical fault, caused a great deal of distress to patients because of the high seasonal temperature.
Arab News visited the hospital during the time of the power cut, which had brought all its activities to a virtual halt.
