Introduction - Uppsala Monitoring Centre

eporting (Griffin & Weber, 1986), based on the hypothesis that Catholics tend to
accept ‘authority’ more easily and that Catholic members of the medical profession
are more paternalistic. In this survey there seems not to be a religious bias as far as
withdrawing drugs is concerned.
Curiosities
Bismuth: Egypt and Japan were the first to withdraw it, but the problem first
struck Australia and France.
Phenacetin: First noted in watchmakers in Switzerland, but withdrawn first in
Finland because of nephropathy.
Phenolpthalein: Norway and Yemen, but carcinogenicity found in the USA.
Thiomersal: First withdrawn in Malaysia in 1995, but it became controversial in
the mid 1990s when it was suggested that it caused autism and the USA undertook
extensive research and although the findings were negative advocated stopping its
use in vaccines.
Phenylbutazone: First withdrawn in Jordan and Bangladesh, first reports in UK.
Tetracycline Paediatric: First withdrawn in Jordan and Peru.
Oxyphenisatin: First withdrawn in Cuba at the time of the first confirmed report.
Phenformin: First withdrawn in Turkey, but problem known for eleven years.
Drug Withdrawals
Figure 13. Withdrawal times (Lifespan) from first approval/mention to withdrawal or restriction
3453 BC–1880 AD median = 1431 years (6 drugs) range 100-3453 years
1880–1900 median = 72.5 years (6 Drugs) range 40–100 years
1900–1930 median = 69 years (6 drugs) range 28–83 years