What You Should Know About Drug Testing
When a drug is ingested it undergoes a complex metabolism in the body before it starts acting. This includes dissolving and absorption in the body’s blood stream. In some cases, the ingested drug undergoes a series of reactions in the body before it is converted into its active form.
Authorities Responsible For Drug Testing
Under the Drug and Cosmetics Act, the regulation of manufacture, sale and distribution of drugs is primarily the concern of the State authorities.
Among other things, the Central authorities are responsible for laying down the standards for drugs, coordination of the activities of State Drug Control Organisations and for providing expert advice with a view to bringing about uniformity in the enforcement of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
Recent Incidents
In a recent report from the CDSO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organization), several commonly used over-the-counter drugs such as Combiflam, Lomotiland D-cold were listed as “Not of Standard Quality”. In fact, some batches of Combiflam were taken off the market last year as they were found to be sub-standard.
The most common reason cited was Description and Particulate Matter or Disintegration. Depending on the degree of deviation from standard, this can affect the safety and efficacy of the aforementioned drugs.
The Way Ahead For Drug Testing
As the government turns towards promoting generic drugs, where doctors will be expected to write only generic drugs with no preference for trade names, it is important that quality control be strictly implemented across all pharmaceutical manufacturers to ensure the efficacy of drugs with no severe side effects on human health.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information.
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