Q: I was having pain in the upper back area. Doctor who is looking at the gastric problem gave me pancreoflat with Ciza for 30 days 3 times daily, after which he asked me to take Essentiale L daily twice. What for the medicine of essentiale L is taken? Do I have a problem which is recurring. What precaution do I need to take so that it will not recur?

A:It is very difficult to comment on the prescribed drugs without diagnosis. Ciza is the brand name of a drug called cisapride which was banned in nearly all western countries like USA, Britain, Australia, etc. in the year 2000 for causing heart beat abnormalities and even deaths. For unknown reasons, the drug is still allowed to be sold in India but its use has dropped by over 75% in the last two years. Cisapride was used to increase movements of the gastro-intestinal system and for reflux disease. Pankreoflat is the brand name of a drug called pancreatin, one of many enzymes secreted by pancreas. It is used in pancreatic insufficiency. Essentiale-L contains lecithin claimed to be useful for liver inflammation (hepatitis) and in alcoholic liver disease. Its therapeutic value is questionable.