Q: What is Neucobal Plus prescribed for? My father-in-law had a heart attack recently. The doctor prescribed him this medicine. I want to know its side effects?

A:Neucobal Plus is a combination product that contains mecobalamin (vitamin B-12), pyridoxine (vitamin B-6) and folic acid. Such a combination has no clinical role and is not permitted in any advanced, western country. In India too, combinations of vitamin B-12, B-6 and B-1 were banned by the Drugs Controller General, India vide notification number GSR 702 (E) that took effect on January 1, 2001. In order to evade the ban, some companies have made minor changes in the formula and are continuing to sell this irrational combination. I cannot see any purpose of giving this very expensive cocktail to the patient mentioned by you except more profits for the manufacturer. Fixed-Dose Combinations (FDCs): Medicines are discovered individually and are supposed to be taken separately. A huge number of irrational, illegal combinations of drugs are being sold in India; quite a few without mandatory approval of the Drugs Controller General, India (DCGI). Except in a few cases (such as TB medicines), it is always better to take medicines separately so that dosage can be adjusted and side effects monitored.