Mr Allen was taking anti-inflammatory drugs

BBC News Online talked to one man who needed life-saving surgery after an adverse reaction to drugs.

Michael Allen has suffered from gout for many years.

"It is a horrible, exceedingly painful disease," he says. "It's completely agonising."

Two years ago, the gout returned. He was prescribed drugs to help him cope with the pain.

"I had a big flare up. I was put on an anti-inflammatory drug."

My gut had split

Mr Allen, a former pharmacist, knew that there were risks associated with taking these drugs.

"I had discussed it with my GP. I was warned that it can affect the gut.

"I was looking out for symptoms or signs of any side-effects but there weren't any."

Emergency surgery

However, three months after starting the treatment Mr Allen, who is now 72, was rushed to hospital.

"My gut had split," he said.

"I had a perforation very low down. I went into hospital that day.

"I had surgery. I was really in a bad way. I was actually at death's door."

I was very sick for a long time

The problem had developed quite suddenly.

"There were no symptoms until the perforation. I was looking for signs, such as indigestion. I thought I would have symptoms but I didn't."

The surgery went well and doctors managed to repair the damage. Mr Allen was discharged 10 days later.

However, it took months for him to recover fully.

"I was very sick for a long time. I lost about six kilograms."

Mr Allen is now doing much better. A new course of drugs is managing to keep his gout at bay.