A patients' group has launched legal action against the Spanish government, alleging that the painkiller metamizole – banned in the UK – has caused serious illness and death among British and Irish nationals. The drug, sold under the brand name Nolotil in Spain, is linked to agranulocytosis, a condition that reduces white blood cells and increases the risk of fatal infections.
The Association of Drug Affected Patients (ADAF) has identified around 350 suspected cases of agranulocytosis between 1996 and 2023, including 170 Britons living in or visiting Spain. The group is examining over 40 fatalities where the drug may have contributed to death. ADAF founder Cristina García del Campo stated: 'This drug has destroyed people's lives and it should now be withdrawn.'
Metamizole was first produced in Germany in 1922 and later withdrawn in about 30 countries, though it remains widely available across the EU. A 2018 European Medicines Agency report suggested that genetic factors may increase susceptibility in certain populations. Case reports indicate British and Irish people may be at higher risk, though this has not been confirmed by independent studies.
One victim, Paddy Clancy, 80, a British expatriate in Spain, nearly died after taking metamizole following a shoulder operation in 2017. He was placed in an induced coma for 39 days after his white blood cells were severely depleted. His medical records confirm 'agranulocytosis associated with metamizole'. Another case involved an Irish holidaymaker, William Smyth, 66, who died from multi-organ failure in 2016 after being prescribed Nolotil for shoulder pain.
ADAF filed its legal action on 14 November in Madrid's national court, demanding an investigation and new controls. The group warns that adverse reactions can lead to sepsis, organ failure, and amputations. García del Campo added: 'Even if it doesn't kill you, once you've had sepsis your body is never the same.'
