G McCann - The antihistamine drug Terfenadine and its side effects.

[John]

Also highly suspicious that the relevant part of Gerry's statement has been highlighted and that Kate (with ithe encyclopaedic memory of the two) makes no mention of the drug in her list of drugs they took on holiday.

I agree, the translators job is to translate the documents, not to highlight supposedly interesting comments.

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GERRY-MCCANN-ARGUIDO.htm#p10p2567

[pegasus]

The bag with clasp which contained the medicines is JIMO likely to be one of the two multicolour fabric bags in the top drawer of the chest of drawers in the south bedroom as seen in police photographs 4th May. If so it seems unlikely IMO a child would have accessed them.

[gilet]

Banned in the UK in 2007.

Terfenadine was not banned in the UK in 2007. That is simply not true.

It isn't even banned today.

Its use is restricted but there is no ban and never has been a ban.

[pegasus]

The bag with clasp in the adult bedroom which contained the medicines (source: book by KM), might possibly IMO be one of the two multicolour bags in the top drawer, as photographed by PJ early on 4th May, see lower photo at

(BTW those are not blue pills on top of the chest of drawers those are corn plasters)

[sadie]

You do work hard Pegasus.  I hope everyone appreciates you.


I keep wondering if you were Harmony on the 3A's.  she was wonderful.  In fact there were three really good sleuths that I noticed (I only came in occasionally to pinch ideas  and see what the "enemy" was thinking  ).  Another was called Albym IIRC .  Think he was good on boats.  Cant remember the other name i noticed.

[pegasus]

That evening the bag containing medicines was in the adult bedroom, either in that chest of drawers or in the built-in wardrobe (source KM book)

If it was in the chest of drawers, it's fairly obvious IMO it would be in the top drawer, same place as passports (in the photo the passports have been taken out of top drawer already IMO to show police and IMO thats why the top drawer is open). My guess is it's probably the multicolour bag on left in top drawer in "FOTO 18".

Alternatively if it was in the built-in wardrobe, again fairly obvious IMO it would be on a high shelf not a low shelf.

[stephen25000]

Terfenadine was not banned in the UK in 2007. That is simply not true.

It isn't even banned today.

Its use is restricted but there is no ban and never has been a ban.

Perhaps you should read other posts first.

'terfenadine is only available in the UK on a named-patient basis through specialist importers. There are no longer any licensed preparations containing terfenadine available in the UK (November 2005)'

Are you also implying therefore the mccanns had access to this drug ?

[John]

Terfenadine was not banned in the UK in 2007. That is simply not true.

It isn't even banned today.

Its use is restricted but there is no ban and never has been a ban.

It might be better to state that Terfenadine is a prescription only drug available on a named patients basis in the UK.  The drug is no longer used in any other pharmaceutical preparations available in the UK and has to be imported from abroad.

What was then the UK Ministry of Heath made the decision followed evidence that Terfenadine, when used with some other drugs, could cause serious heart rhythm disorders which were linked to 15 deaths since the product was launched in 1982.

[pegasus]

Sorry to question your hard work Pegasus but your opinion is based on the assumption that any tablets consumed would have to be taken from the clasp bag by Madeleine. An alternative theory, if one were to point fingers at the McCanns could just as easily involve tablets being left out or the bag being left open before the bag was placed in the chest of drawers.

It's not a theory that I subscribe to but it's possible.

Yes I see your valid point, however I still think it interesting to establish where in the north bedroom the medicine bag was safely stored that night, whether it was in the chest of drawers, or in the wardrobe.
Mr Amaral, in his book or an interview I forget which, stated that no medicines were found by PJ in apartment 5A. This is probably simply IMO because PJ did not look inside those small bags in top drawer?
(BTW I think the "found medicines" scenario is unlikely to be the cause in this case IMO).

[Miss Taken Identity]

This is an interesting thread.

Was the drug Terfenadine being used /stored in the apartment? As a CARDIOLOGIST, Gerry McCann would be well aware of the side effects, especially on the heart, as he would have received information as a high priority, from clinical reviews which take place regularly.  He would have to advise his patients GP not to prescribe this if an allergy was diagnosed whilst being treated for a heart condition.

This drug is not in BNF.

If it is a 'named patient only', there is an understanding that the Prescribing GP has discussed the serious side effects to the patient.  In some countries, you need to disclose certain prescribed drugs by carrying a GP letter- 'notery'.

I wonder why he didn't use a more user friendly antihistamine. Weird!

[jassi]

This is an interesting thread.

Was the drug Terfenadine being used /stored in the apartment? As a CARDIOLOGIST, Gerry McCann would be well aware of the side effects, especially on the heart, as he would have received information as a high priority, from clinical reviews which take place regularly.  He would have to advise his patients GP not to prescribe this if an allergy was diagnosed whilst being treated for a heart condition.

This drug is not in BNF.

If it is a 'named patient only', there is an understanding that the Prescribing GP has discussed the serious side effects to the patient.  In some countries, you need to disclose certain prescribed drugs by carrying a GP letter- 'notery'.

I wonder why he didn't use a more user friendly antihistamine. Weird!

Perhaps it was a free sample.

[Miss Taken Identity]

There are very strict rules and regulations with regards to pharma and doctors liaisons.  That would be a serious breach and could lead to a disciplinary.  Maybe the GMC should be notified if this was the case.

Gerry, more than anyone as a Cardiologist, would be aware of the dangers of the side affects.

[Benice]

This is an interesting thread.

Was the drug Terfenadine being used /stored in the apartment? As a CARDIOLOGIST, Gerry McCann would be well aware of the side effects, especially on the heart, as he would have received information as a high priority, from clinical reviews which take place regularly.  He would have to advise his patients GP not to prescribe this if an allergy was diagnosed whilst being treated for a heart condition.

This drug is not in BNF.

If it is a 'named patient only', there is an understanding that the Prescribing GP has discussed the serious side effects to the patient.  In some countries, you need to disclose certain prescribed drugs by carrying a GP letter- 'notery'.

I wonder why he didn't use a more user friendly antihistamine. Weird!

What is even more weird IMO -  is why the McCanns wouldn't  flush them  (the evidence) down the loo before the police arrived  if Madeleine had overdosed on them and they were going to cover up her death?    Why would they hang on to the evidence for the police to find when it was so easy to get rid of it.     That makes no sense.

[Alfred R Jones]

Even more weird is why so many people would go along with the cover-up of the death of a child allegedly caused by an an accidental overdose of an antihistamine.  And why two governments, Scotland Yard, the UK media, Clarence Mitchell etc would also go along with the cover-up.  Hmm....most mysterious....

[Freya]

Yes, they would both be duty bound to report anything they had prescribed on a named patient basis. Also, given that Terfenadine has been shown to affect a patient's mental state, if prescribed it should have been mentioned on that basis too.

Forgive me if someone has already mentioned this but isn't Terfenadine an active ingredient in over the counter allergy remedies such as allereze? I believe it is. That means it doesn't require a prescription