Aminophenazone (amidopyrine)


General information

Aminophenazone (amidopyrine) is the most toxic and most dangerous anti-inflammatory analgesic. Blood dyscrasias have been documented beyond any doubt, perhaps due to a hypersensitivity mechanism. The Committee on the Safety of Drugs of the Japanese Pharmaceutical Affairs Bureau has ordered its withdrawal because of its serious adverse effects [ ] and it has been withdrawn in most developed countries. However, aminophenazone is still used in some developing countries [ ].

Organs and systems

Hematologic

Aminophenazone causes severe bone marrow depression, usually with a fulminant course and a high mortality [ , ]. Specific antibodies and leukoagglutinins are sometimes found [ ]. Agranulocytosis is caused by arrest of maturation at the metamyelocyte stage [ ].

Fatal thrombocytopenia has been reported in a breastfeeding infant after the administration of aminophenazone suppositories [ ].

Gastrointestinal

Gastrotoxicity with aminophenazone is less common than with other analgesic/anti-inflammatory drugs, probably because of its weaker anti-inflammatory effect.

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