Maha FDA Orders Stop Sale Notice Alprazolam In Malegaon To Prevent Abuse In Open Market

Mumbai, 10 Dec 2018: Against the backdrop of abuse of anti-anxiety drug, Alprazolam in Malegaon, the Maharashtra FDA has ordered stop sale notice on anti-anxiety drug Alprazolam in Malegaon to prevent its illegal sale in the open market. The state drug regulator is now in talks with the chemist associations to designate 15 retailers and 10 wholesalers to sell the drug only on prescription which has often been used for addiction by the powerloom labourers. 

FDA has detected 480 such chemist shops and 120 wholesalers for selling the drug without prescription and ordered them to stop its sale with immediate effect. Investigations have revealed that bulk of illegal supply is clandestinely routed from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat and supplied through retail supply chain to the gullible customers. 

Over 60,000 tablets have been seized from different parts of Malegaon for illegally selling and possessing the drug. Altogether, 10 persons have been arrested in six cases.

The Nashik rural police is also keeping a close watch on some drug wholesalers of Nashik’s neighbouring districts. In Malegaon, the scheduled drug is sold clandestinely under the code -Kuttiya Goli. Wholesalers allegedly supply the tablets in bulk to Malegaon through their link-men, who sell them in different parts of the town.

Workers in powerloom units allegedly take these pills to help them tide over long working hours and exposure to high noise pollution. However, constant use of the drug can lead to addiction.

Under the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, this scheduled drug is supposed to be sold at chemist shops only on furnishing doctor’s prescription. The cost of one tablet is Rs. 2. In Malegaon, tablets are being sold illegally because of the huge demand. 

Alprazolam is used to treat panic disorders and anxiety, like unexpected extreme fear and tension due to stress. It is recommended to start with a small dosage and increase it gradually. It is recommended not to stop this medicine suddenly as it may cause withdrawal symptoms like seizures, aggressive behavior, blurred vision, etc.Pharmabiz