A number of over-the-counter cough medicines have been recalled amid safety concerns, according to a regulatory body.
Boots is amongst the pharmacies issuing a warning to customers, with the retailers Day Cold & Flu Relief Oral Solution and Covonia Dry Cough Sugar Free Formula amongst products raising concern.
Regulators reviewed some medicines and found that a number contained the substance pholcodine. The substance may expose anyone taking the medicine to a "very rare" chance of severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to muscle relaxants (neuromuscular blocking agents) when combined with general anaesthetic.
The Government's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are now recalling the medicines as a precautionary measure after concluding that the potential risks outweigh the benefits for these products.
The regulators explained the independent body the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM), considered evidence of an "increased risk of the very rare event of anaphylaxis when exposed to neuromuscular blocking agent".
Following the findings, the body issued advice to medical professionals warning doctors and pharmacies to ""stop supplying the above products immediately" as well as quarantining all remaining stock.
Anyone who may have purchased the products should check the packaging to find out whether the medication they have contains pholcodine. People should also contact their local pharmacy to find an alternative medication if needed.
What products have been affected products by the recall?
- Boots Night Cough Relief Oral Solution, PL 00014/0230
- Boots Dry Cough Syrup 6 Years+
- Boots Day Cold & Flu Relief Oral Solution
- Cofsed Linctus
- Care Pholcodine 5mg/5ml Oral Solution Sugar Free
- Galenphol Linctus
- Galenphol Paediatric Linctus
- Galenphol Strong Linctus
- Covonia Dry Cough Sugar Free Formula
- Pholcodine Linctus Bells Healthcare 5mg Per 5ml Oral Solution
- Numark Pholcodine 5mg per 5ml Oral Solution
- Well Pharmaceuticals Pholcodine 5mg per 5ml Oral Solution
- Superdrug Pholcodine Linctus BP
- Strong Pholcodine Linctus BP
- Pholcodine Linctus BP
- Strong Pholcodine Linctus BP
Day & Night Nurse Capsules
Day Nurse Capsules
Day Nurse
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer said: “Safety is our top priority, and we keep the safety of medicines under continual review.
“Following a thorough scientific safety review of all the available evidence on pholcodine, together with advice from the independent Commission on Human Medicines, it has been recommended, as a precautionary measure, that these products should no longer be used.
“If you are taking a cough or cold medicine, check the packaging, label or patient information leaflet to see if pholcodine is a listed ingredient. If it is, and you have any questions, you can talk to your pharmacist who will suggest an alternative medicine.
“If you have an operation scheduled using general anaesthesia, tell your anaesthetist if you think you have used pholcodine, particularly in the past 12 months. The anaesthetist will be well placed to take this into account. Anaesthetists are highly trained in managing anaphylaxis.
“If you want more information or advice, please speak to your pharmacist.”
