---

Iraq: NAPS Tablets

Answer

During the first three months of Operation TELIC (January-March 2003), nerve agent pre-treatment sets (NAPS) tablets were issued to Armed Forces personnel in single strips of 21 tablets. The recommended dosage rate is one pyridostigmine bromide (30mg) tablet every eight hours i.e. three per day. Thus, a single strip contains a week's supply. A total of 7,266,504 tablets were supplied to Operation TELIC, in the form of 346,024 strips of 21. These were issued to approximately 32,000 personnel, over a three month period as follows:

Month	Strips supplied	Total tablets
January 2003	85,573	1,797,033
February 2003	155,541	3,266,361
March 2003	104,910	2,203,110
Total	346,024	7,266,504

NAPS tablets were issued to personnel by their commanders, and self-administered on command. Operational commanders were given the authority to decide when troops should start and stop taking NAPS in order that the use of the countermeasure could be adapted to meet the threat situation at the time. Due to the policy of self-administration of NAPS tablets, as opposed to administration by a medical officer, no records of their administration are kept. All service personnel receive training on the importance of taking NAPS in theatre and instructions for the use of NAPS are well publicised to command and medical staff. The use of NAPS on Operation TELIC ceased in April 2003. The effects of the medication have been assessed through routine epidemiology and theatre reporting systems. In addition, MoD sponsored a research programme into the possible health effects of the combination of vaccines and tablets which were given to troops at the time of the 1990-91 Gulf conflict to protect them against the threat of biological and chemical warfare. The overwhelming evidence from the programme is that the NAPS that were offered to UK forces at the time of the 1990-91 Gulf conflict would not have had adverse health effects. The tablets issued on Op TELIC were the same as those used in the Gulf in 1990-91. The MoD also funds the Kings Centre for Military Health Research which looks at the health issues for service people and veterans including those that have served in Iraq.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

2558; 710 c103-4WA

Session

2008-09

Related items

Iraq: NAPS Tablets
Monday, 1 June 2009
Written questions
House of Lords

Iraq: NAPS Tablets
Monday, 1 June 2009
Written questions
House of Lords

Iraq: NAPS Tablets
Monday, 1 June 2009
Written questions
House of Lords

Subjects

Armed forces Armed conflict Chemical weapons Iraq Preventive medicine Side effects Iraq conflict Pyridostigmine bromide

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk