Thiocolchicoside-containing medicines

  • Procedure started
  • Under evaluation
  • CHMP opinion
  • European Commission final decision
Current status
European Commission final decision

Overview

European Medicines Agency recommends restricting use of thiocolchicoside by mouth or injection

Medicine only to be used at low doses for additional short-term relief of painful muscle contractures

On 21 November 2013 the European Medicines Agency's Committee on Human Medicinal Products (CHMP) recommended that the authorised uses for thiocolchicoside-containing medicines for use by mouth or injection should be restricted across the European Union (EU). These medicines are now recommended only as an add-on treatment for painful muscle contractures (permanent tightening of the muscle tissue) resulting from spinal conditions in adults and adolescents 16 years of age or older. In addition, the dose of thiocolchicoside by mouth or injection should be restricted.

Thiocolchicoside is a muscle relaxant that has been authorised by national procedures in several EU Member States1 for use by mouth or injection into the muscles in the treatment of painful muscular disorders.

The review of thiocolchicoside was triggered by the Italian medicines regulatory agency, AIFA, following new experimental evidence which suggested that thiocolchicoside was broken down in the body into a metabolite called M2 or SL59.0955 that could damage dividing cells, resulting in aneuploidy (an abnormal number or arrangement of chromosomes). As a result AIFA asked the CHMP to examine the safety profile of this medicine and consider what regulatory action might be appropriate.

The CHMP reviewed the evidence, including the opinions of experts in the field of medicines safety, and concluded that aneuploidy could occur with M2 at levels not much greater than those seen after recommended doses of thiocolchicoside taken by mouth. Aneuploidy is a risk factor for harm to the developing fetus, reduced fertility in men and in theory could increase the risk of developing cancer. The CHMP therefore recommended measures to ensure thiocolchicoside-containing medicines are used as safely as possible. These include restricting the maximum dose and number of days of treatment when given by mouth or injection. Use is also contra-indicated in pregnancy and lactation or in women of childbearing potential not using contraception, as well as in children or for chronic (long-term) conditions. Preparations for local application to the skin, which do not produce substantial levels of M2 in the body, are not affected by this review.

The CHMP opinion was forwarded to the European Commission, which endorsed it and issued a final legally-binding decision, valid across the EU, on 17 January 2014.


1 Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain.

Key facts

About this medicine
Approved name
Thiocolchicoside-containing medicines
International non-proprietary name (INN) or common name
thiocolchicoside
Associated names
Muscoril and Coltramyl
Class
muscle relaxant
About this procedure
Current status
European Commission final decision
Reference number
EMA/H/A-31/1361
Type
Article 31 referrals

This type of referral is triggered when the interest of the Union is involved, following concerns relating to the quality, safety or efficacy of a medicine or a class of medicines.

Key dates and outcomes
CHMP opinion date
21/11/2013
EC decision date
17/01/2014

All documents

Opinion provided by Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use

  • List item

    Article-31 referral - European Medicines Agency recommends restricting use of thiocolchicoside by mouth or injection (PDF/90.96 KB)

    Adopted

    First published: 22/11/2013
    Last updated: 06/03/2014
    EMA/706409/2013

  • List item

    Thiocolchicoside Article-31 referral - Annex III (PDF/65.71 KB)


    First published: 22/11/2013
    Last updated: 22/11/2013

  • European Commission final decision

  • List item

    Thiocolchicoside Article-31 referral - Annex I (PDF/127.84 KB)


    First published: 06/03/2014
    Last updated: 06/03/2014

  • List item

    Thiocolchicoside Article-31 referral - Annex II (PDF/81.79 KB)


    First published: 06/03/2014
    Last updated: 06/03/2014

  • List item

    Thiocolchicoside Article-31 referral - Annex IV (PDF/23.55 KB)


    First published: 06/03/2014
    Last updated: 06/03/2014

  • List item

    Thiocolchicoside Article-31 referral - Assessment report (PDF/277.82 KB)

    Adopted

    First published: 06/03/2014
    Last updated: 06/03/2014
    EMA/40340/2014

  • List item

    Thiocolchicoside Article-31 referral - Divergent positions (PDF/40.17 KB)


    First published: 06/03/2014
    Last updated: 06/03/2014

  • Description of documents published

    Please note that some of the listed documents apply only to certain procedures.

    • Overview - lay-language summary of the stage of the procedure
    • Notification – a letter from a Member State, the European Commission or the marketing authorisation holder requesting the initiation of the procedure
    • Scientific background – further background information from the triggering Member State on the issues leading to the initiation of the procedure (if applicable)
    • List of questions – questions agreed by the Committee requesting further information from the marketing authorisation holder(s) / applicant(s) to evaluate the issues identified
    • Timetable for the procedure – agreed timeframe to respond to the list of questions, to assess the issues and to adopt a conclusion
    • List of medicines concerned by the procedure – medicine(s) / active substance(s) concerned, and marketing authorisation holder(s) / applicant(s)
    • List of questions to be addressed by the stakeholders – call for data to be submitted by stakeholders (e.g. healthcare professionals, patient organisations, individual patients) (if applicable)
    • Stakeholder submission form – form to be used by stakeholders to submit data (if applicable)
    • Scientific conclusions – scientific conclusions of the PRAC and/or CHMP and/or CMDh
    • Assessment report – PRAC or CHMP assessment and conclusions on the issues investigated, including divergent positions (if applicable)
    • Divergent positions – divergent positions of the CHMP or CMDh members for pharmacovigilance procedures (if applicable)
    • Changes to the summary of product characteristics, labelling and package leaflet (amended sections or fully revised version) (if applicable)
    • Condition(s) to the marketing authorisation(s) – condition(s) for the safe and effective use of the medicine(s) (if applicable)
    • Condition for lifting the suspension – condition to be fulfilled for the suspension of the marketing authorisation(s) to be lifted (if applicable)
    • Timetable for implementation of CMDh position – agreed timeframe to submit and finalise the variation(s) implementing the outcome of the procedure (if applicable)

    Note that older documents may have different titles.

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