Is the hepatotoxicity of metamizole significant in clinical practice?

Abstract

In December 2020 representatives of the responsible entities in consulation with European Medicines Agency and Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products published a safety communication on the possible occurrence of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in the use of metamizolecontaining medicinal products. According to the message, metamizole should not be re-used in patients with a history of liver damage during treatment with metamizole, when no other cause that could lead to liver damage has been identified. Clinical practice, including spontaneous monitoring of side effects, shows that metamizole is still an effective and safe analgesic, which is included in the current recommendations for the treatment of acute, postoperative and cancer patients.