Billy Smyth, 66, died in Spain in April of this year after he took prescription medication for cold-like symptoms called Nolotil.
By Brian Canty
The son of the late Billy Smyth, 66, who died tragically in Spain following complications with medication he was prescribed has spoken about the dangers facing all Irish people who fall ill while on holidays on the Iberian peninsula.
Father of two Derek Smyth from Mullingar said the impact of his father’s death has been “huge”.
He wants to send out a strong warning to those who may become sick while abroad.
“All the doctors that spoke to us in Spain said British and Irish people shouldn't take the drug my father was prescribed,” he said of Nolotil, which was given to his father after he complained of cold-like symptoms.
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Father and son, Billy and Derek Smyth. The dead man's family say his passing has had a huge impact on them but they believe their message is getting out.
Billy complained of shoulder pain while on holiday in Torrevieja near Alicante in February and was prescribed Nolotil which he took for five days.
In April he returned to another GP in Spain to get a renewal for his normal prescription and also told the doctor he could not shake off what felt like cold symptoms.
He was diagnosed with low white blood cell count and taken to hospital where further tests show he had suffered poisoning of his bone marrow, seriously impacting his immune system.
Billy developed sepsis and necrotising fasciitis as a result of the low white cell count. He underwent surgery to remove tissue in an effort to save his life.
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Billy was a fit and healthy man who was one of the early founders of the Lakeside Wheelers Cycling Club in Mullingar.
Following the surgery, Billy remained in a coma and developed multiple organ failure. Sadly he died of septic shock on April 17th.
Up until the time of his death, Billy was a fit and healthy man who was one of the early founders of the Lakeside Wheelers Cycling Club in Mullingar.
Derek said while he understands the results of tests seeking to measure the adverse effects of Nolotil on people of Irish and British origin were not conclusive, medical staff the family had encountered while his father was ill believed there was a link.
“At a ground level, doctors in Spain certainly seem to feel Irish and English people are disproportionately hit with side-effects,” he said.
Billy's family say medical staff they met believe the side effects of the medication he was taking impact British and Irish people more than Continental Europeans.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has said that Nolotil (Metamizole) has never been authorised for use in Ireland.
The mainstream media has really latched on to the Smyth's tragic experience, with all major newspapers and websites contacting Derek in the last week as well as many radio stations.
“Lots of people have heeded the warnings and I’ve seen many people sharing comments saying they had serious side effects, but pulled through,” he continued.
“My message would be to take care and understand any medication you take and be aware this seems to have greater side effects ( for Irish people).
“Doctors said this to us and in the six days I was in that ICU ward with my father another British man was in a critical condition.”
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