Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason the drug sodium amytal was withdrawn from the market here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21450/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Irish Medicines Board is the competent authority for the regulation of medicinal products in Ireland. I am advised by the Board that the drug sodium amytal was licenced in 1977. There are a number of different formulations (oral and injection) and doses (50mg, 100mg etc) available. The manufacturer ceased to distribute some formulations in the early 1990s. The licence was not renewed by the manufacturer in 1997 for commercial reasons.