title: Metamizole use among Hispanics in Miami: report of a survey conducted in a primary care setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metamizole (dipyrone) is a myelotoxic, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent that has been banned from the US market since 1979. However, dipyrone may be purchased in some areas of the US. We conducted a survey in a primary care setting in Miami, Florida to determine the prevalence of metamizole possession and use among Hispanics living in this area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants consisted of 137 Hispanic outpatients interviewed consecutively during a primary care visit in the month of February 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Metamizole was possessed by 28% of the surveyed population. The most common reasons for using dipyrone were pain (72%) and fever (24%). The vast majority of patients had purchased the medication in Latin America (95%), in most instances without a prescription (95%). Nineteen patients (13%) had used the medication during the previous year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metamizole is available to Latino immigrants who reside in the US, despite the FDA ban imposed in 1977.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Miami Leonard Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA. Agarcia7@med.miami.edu
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Canoniero
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Andrés Omar
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Soriano
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004177:Dipyrone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy; D005431:Florida; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004177:Dipyrone