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Firebox told to stop selling Bytox hangover patches as ‘hangover’ is medical condition

 

Laura Davis
Wednesday 07 November 2012 17:48 GMT
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They only went on sale recently, but Firebox have been told to stop selling their 'hangover patches'.

Under direction from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the product, Bytox falls under the ‘Borderline’ category, due to the use of the term ‘Hangover’ which refers to a medical condition.

Who would have thought a hangover was considered a medical condition? Perhaps it can also be a valid excuse to take a sick day from work, too.

A spokesperson from the MHRA said;

"The MHRA have issued an urgent notice to Firebox.com asking them to remove the hangover patch Bytox from sale. They have now removed the product from their website. We consider this to be a medicine due to the claims being made for it in the relation to the prevention of hangovers and consider it to be an unlicensed medicinal product."

The patch was invented by the U.S. plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Leonard Grossman, but had not received any official medical backing.

According to the packaging, the patch replenishes the vitamins and acids lost when consuming alcohol - which ultimately helps the dreaded hangover.

Some had already criticised the company for glamourising binge-drinking and encouraging people to take it too far. But what do you think? Would you have been willing to try the patches? Do you consider a hangover a medical condition?

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