Cough and cold medicines containing pholcodine have been discontinued for safety reasons.
The drugs were recalled after a review found that the risk of a very rare allergic reaction associated with pholcodine outweighed the health benefits of the drug.
An allergic reaction has been described as a “very rare occurrence” of anaphylaxis in patients receiving general anesthesia with muscle relaxants (muscle relaxants).
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has ordered healthcare professionals to stop dispensing these drugs and recommend other products to patients instead.
People who are currently taking lozenges or cough syrups should check the package to see if pholcodine is on the ingredient list and speak to their pharmacist for more information. People should also tell their anesthesiologist before surgery if they have taken pholcodine within the past 12 months, the MHRA said.
The MHRA press release says there is already a known link between a rare severe allergic reaction that occurs under general anesthesia and that the results of a new study from September 2022 confirmed the evidence, while noting that the overall risk is “very small”. “was previously. “.
MHRA Chief Security Officer Dr. Alison Cave said in a statement: “Safety is our top priority and we are constantly monitoring drug safety.
“Following a thorough scientific safety review of all available data on pholcodine, as well as the recommendation of the Independent Medicines Committee, it has been recommended that these products be no longer used as a precautionary measure.”
Drugs affected by the recall
- Boots Night Cough Relief oral solution
- Boots dry cough syrup 6 years +
- Boots Day oral solution for colds and flu
- Chosen Linctus
- Care Pholcodine 5 mg / 5 ml sugar free oral solution
- Galenhall Lincoln
- Galenfol Pediatric Linctus
- Galenfall Strong Linctus
- Covonia Sugar Free Dry Cough Formula
- Pholcodine Linctus Bells Healthcare 5 mg per 5 ml oral solution
- Numark Folcodin 5 mg per 5 ml oral solution
- Superdrug Folcodin Linctus BP
- Strong Pholcodin Linctus BP
- Polcodin Linctus BP
- Strong Pholcodin Linctus BP
According to the MHRA, pholcodine is an opioid drug used to treat dry coughs in adults and children over the age of six, and in combination with other drugs to treat cold and flu symptoms. This works directly in the brain and suppresses the cough reflex by reducing the nerve signals sent to the muscles involved in coughing.
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.