Toxic substance found in content of “Dok-1 Maks” syrup

Based on the relevant order of the Health Ministry, members of a special working group conducted an on-site inspection of the situation around the death of children after taking the “Dok-1 Maks” drug, the ministerial press service reports.

“Dok-1 Maks” tablets and syrup, produced by the Indian Marion Biotech, were registered in Uzbekistan in 2012 and went on sale the same year. According to the Agency for Developing Pharmaceutical Network, each series of the drug has been tested and a certificate of conformity has been issued for them. The drug is imported to Uzbekistan by Quramax Medical.

As a result of the study, it was confirmed that after taking the “Dok-1 Maks” syrup, 18 out of 21 children with acute respiratory diseases died.

It turned out that the deceased children took the drug at home along with other drugs for 2-7 days, 2.5-5 ml 3-4 times a day. It is noted that this dose exceeds the norm for children.

All children were given the drug without a doctor’s prescription. Since the main substance in the drug content is paracetamol, Doc-1 Max syrup was incorrectly used as a cold remedy by parents or on the recommendation of pharmacists, which led to a deterioration in the health of children.

“Paracetamol should be used only at body temperature above 38-38.5 degrees 1 or 2 times a day, 100-125 mg for children under the age of 1 year, 200 mg – 1-3 years, 250 mg – 3-5 years. It is strictly forbidden to take paracetamol at normal body temperature,” the Ministry of Health said.

In addition, during laboratory studies, ethylene glycol was detected in the “Dok-1 Maks” syrup of this series.

“This drug is toxic, its 95% solution, when applied at 1-2 ml/kg, causes serious changes in the patient’s health, such as vomiting, convulsions, epilepsy, problems in the circulatory system and acute renal failure,” the ministry noted.

The working group of the Health Ministry took into account all cases of the law violation identified in the course of the study.

For negligence in official duties, untimely analysis of the death of children and failure to take the necessary measures, 7 officials were relieved of their posts and disciplinary measures were applied to a number of specialists. All collected documents were sent to law enforcement agencies for legal assessment.

Currently, “Dok-1 Maks” tablets and syrups are withdrawn from all pharmacies in the country in the prescribed manner.

Violations identified on the basis of the study materials, as well as the issue of holding medical workers accountable, will be considered at a separate meeting of the Collegium of the Health Ministry.

The Ministry urged parents to purchase medicines for children only with a doctor’s prescription.