Panama Health Officials Order Lisinopril Normon Off the Shelves
Panama's Health Minister Dr. Camilo Alleyne ordered government and private pharmacies to pull the blood pressure medicine Lisinopril Normon from shelves after two new cases presented today with the Acute Renal Insufficiency Paralysis (PIRA) syndrome. Approximately 7,000 Panamanians are taking this medication which is made in Spain. Panama has assembled an executive panel of experts to handle this crisis which has effected thirty people and killed 19 in the last two weeks. Apparently less than 50% of the victims have been taking Lisinopril Normon, but both of the new patients that presented today were taking this specific medication. Health officials stressed that their order to pull this medication from the shelves is more of a prevention measure and is based on clinical evidence. In other words, they are not sure yet if this is the cause. Health officials said they are concentrating on two lots of the medicine and have been conducting tests which so far have not produced any tangible results. (more) Switching to the FDA: When this first started Panama turned to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta because they thought they had an unidentified virus or bacteria on their hands. Now that it's starting to look like a case of bad meds, they are starting to work more closely with the Food and Drug Administration from the United States. Government health officials have sent samples of tissues, blood, and other bodily fluids from the patients to the CDC labs in the United States for testing. The samples were flown back in a "special plane" that is designed for this task.
What Is Lisinopril? Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor that is commonly used to lower blood pressure, to treat congestive heart failure, and to improve the survival rate after a heart attack. In the United States it is sold under the brand names Prinivil and Zestril. This particular batch is called Lisinopril Normon which is produced by a Spanish company. The description of the drug says that "Lisinopril can impair the function of the kidneys, and every person taking this medication should have their kidney function checked." Interestingly, lisinopril and other ACE inhibitors were developed from the venom of a poisonous Brazilian snake.
