Brit dies of allergic reaction to painkiller banned in UK after injury abroad

24 January 2024 , 16:53

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Mark Brooks has died after experiencing shoulder pain following a game of golf (Image: Facebook)

A British expat in Spain died of an apparent allergic reaction after being given a painkiller which is banned in the UK.

Doctors at a health clinic gave Mark Brooks, 42, Nolotil, the brand name for metamizole, after he experienced shoulder discomfort following a round of golf near his home in Alicante. Two days later, the father of one was rushed to hospital in Torrevieja, where doctors said he had depleted white blood cells and was suffering from sepsis. This led to organ failure and Mr Brooks, a gardener originally from Derbyshire, died four days after receiving the jab.

Metamizole is banned in the UK and documents reportedly uncovered by campaign group Association of Drug Affected Patients (ADAF) are said to suggest Mr Brooks died following "an apparent allergic reaction to metamizole". The Mirror has contacted ADAF for comment.

Mr Brooks' partner Summer Moses, 38, said: "The whole thing is a blur, like a bad dream... I couldn't believe how this happened in less than a week. He was bouncing around, excited about the golf, and then he's gone. How could this have happened? No one should be dying after a shoulder pain from golf. It's senseless."

The gardener, pictured with his partner Summer Moses and their daughter, died four days after he was given an injection (Facebook)

She told The Guardian Mr Brooks developed a rash and blisters within hours of receiving an injection of Nolotil. He was taken to A&E where doctors found he had a low white blood cell count and his condition rapidly deteriorated.

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ADAF, comprised of patients, family members, lawyers, and healthcare professionals, claims Nolotil is the best-selling medication in Spain - but it is banned in nearly 40 countries, including the UK. It says the painkiller is prescribed to alleviate any type of pain, caused by anything from headaches to toothaches, and knee pain to back discomfort.

But Ms Moses, who has a four-year-old daughter with Mr Brooks, says she has been "left to pick up the pieces" after the tragedy. She reported the case to ADAF, which told local media Olive Press the family's lives have now been "ruined". Christina del Campo, a campaigner with the group, said: "It's not just his life that's been ruined, it's her life and her daughter's too. All because of a painkiller."

More than 40 deaths in Spain, including those of expats, have been linked to Nolotil, it is believed. It is also understood to have contributed to up to 350 cases of agranulocytosis, a severe form of neutropenia which causes patients to have lower-than-normal levels of white blood cells.

Francisco Almodóvar, the lawyer representing the ADAF, told The Guardian late last year: "We have testimonies of British people telling their stories. We can support the evidence with clinical records. It is a very significant public health issue." The Mirror has approached Boehringer Ingelheim, the manufacturer that makes Nolotil, for comment.

Bradley Jolly