Pholcodine containing cough and cold medication is being taken off the shelves in UK pharmacies amidst safety fears.
Pholcodine is an opioid based drug which has been approved for adults and children over the age of six to treat a dry cough and in combination with other medicines, treat the symptoms of the cold and flu.
The precaution has been taken after MHRA reviewed the medication and found that its risks outweighed the benefits. The risk albeit is rare is the risk of anaphylaxis to neuromuscular blocking agents NMBA which is used in general anaesthesia. The review considered different safety information which included a recent study which highlighted that the use of it during 12 months preceding anaesthesia was significantly associated with an increased risk of peri anaesthetic anaphylaxis to NMBA’s.
A MHRA Class 2 Recall notice has been issued which means all pholcodine-containing medicines should be quarantined and sent back to the manufacturer. Pharmacies have been advised to stop the sale and dispensing of all pholcodine containing medicines and offer alternatives to customers and patients wo require treatment for a new dry cough.
Pholcodine products affected by the recall include those from:
The Boots Co:
- Boots Night Cough Relief Oral Solution, PL 00014/0230
- Boots Dry Cough Syrup 6 Years+, PL 00014/0523
- Boots Day Cold & Flu Relief Oral Solution, PL 00014/0565
Thornton & Ross
- Cofsed Linctus, PL 00240/0097
- Care Pholcodine 5mg/5ml Oral Solution Sugar Free, PL 00240/0101
- Galenphol Linctus, PL 00240/0101
- Galenphol Paediatric Linctus, PL 00240/0102
- Galenphol Strong Linctus, PL 00240/0103
- Covonia Dry Cough Sugar Free Formula, PL 00240/0353
Bell Sons & Co
- Pholcodine Linctus Bells Healthcare 5mg Per 5ml Oral Solution, PL 03105/0059
- Numark Pholcodine 5mg per 5ml Oral Solution, PL 03105/0059
- Well Pharmaceuticals Pholcodine 5mg per 5ml Oral Solution, PL 03105/0059
- Superdrug Pholcodine Linctus BP, PL 03105/0059
- Strong Pholcodine Linctus BP, PL 03105/0060
Pinewood Laboratories
- Pholcodine Linctus BP, PL 04917/0002
- Strong Pholcodine Linctus BP, PL 04917/0005
LCM Ltd
- Pholcodine Linctus, PL 12965/0030
Glaxosmithkline Consumer Healthcare (UK)
- Day & Night Nurse Capsules, PL 44673/0068
- Day Nurse Capsules, PL 44673/0069
- Day Nurse, PL 44673/0075
Please check you shelves over the counter, in the dispenser and stock rooms for any stock and process your recalls and inform your teams.