120
DR. R. G. ROBINSON
43-3028
Mr. Claude Peper,
Chairman,
U.S. House of Representatives
Select Committee on Aging,
Washington D.C. 20515,
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AUSTRALIA
NORTH SHORE MEDICAL CENTRE
66 PACIFIC HIGHWAY
ST. LEONARDS 2065
April 24, 1980
Dear Sir:
I am most apologetic over the delay which has
occurred in my responding to your letter of
February 29, 1980 regarding the use of dimethyl
sulfoxide for the treatment of arthritis in humans.
This drug was available some fifteen years ago
in this country for a short time but has not been
used since. I have had a search of the literature
and studied the conditions in various departments
around the country without being able to obtain
any factual information. of the value.
I can say as far as I am concerned that for the
short period during which I used this drug it was
quite extraordinary in its effects on local conditions.
The relief of pain and the improvement in the circulation
in many conditions of the hands particularly was quite
impressive. The use of the drug in local application
was not plaqued with any serious side-effects in
short term use as I experienced it but I know of the
problems of liver, bone marrow and eye damage.
When comparing it with many of the extremely toxic
drugs which are now used, I wonder whether the decision
to prevent its use in this country was premature.
Unfortunately of course it is widely available and its
use indiscriminantly could and probably would create
all sorts of problems with toxic effects.
I am therefore sorry to say that I cannot give you any
important information about DMSO and I apologise for
the length of time that it has taken me to obtain
negative responses.
Yours sincerely,
ay
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