Cough medicines withdrawn over safety fears

As reported by The Independent, health experts have warned medicines containing pholcodine can cause allergic reactions in rare cases

Cough and cold medicines from the country’s top pharmacies have been withdrawn from sale over risks patients could suffer an allergic reaction. Watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said products containing pholcodine should be withdrawn over concerns those taking them may experience a severe allergic reaction to muscle relaxants (neuromuscular blocking agents) they contain.

Around half of all general anaesthetics are thought to use these blocking agents that are used during general anaesthesia in surgery. The risk of suffering a severe allergic reaction, or anaphylaxis, is thought to affect people who have taken a cough or cold product containing pholcodine in the 12 months before having surgery.

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.”

The European Medicines Agency recommended the withdrawal of pholcodine medicines from the European market in December last year. In the UK, healthcare workers have been told to stop supplying the products “immediately” and “quarantine all remaining stock”.

Professor Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: “If you are taking a cough medicine (including tablets and syrups), 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 can suggest a different medicine suitable for you.

“The risk to patients who have used pholcodine is very small. If you are due to have surgery, please speak to your pharmacist or medical team for advice.

“A cough usually clears up within three to four weeks. You can treat it with other cough medicines or hot lemon and honey (not suitable for babies under one year old).

“Rest up if possible and you can try paracetamol or ibuprofen, if suitable, to treat any pain. If your cough persists for longer than three to four weeks seek advice from a healthcare professional.

“This withdrawal is needed as safety of patients is paramount and we support efforts to ensure that all medicines on the market are safe and effective.”