Some cold and flu medicine sold behind pharmacy counters is being recalled over safety concerns.
Medicine regulators said today products containing pholcodine – which has a ‘very rare’ chance of causing an allergic reaction – are being taken off the shelves.
The ingredient has been used as a cough suppressant since the 1950s, though some research suggests it causes an allergic reaction when combined with general anaesthetic.
What medicines are being recalled?
• Boots Night Cough Relief Oral Solution
• 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
• Pholcodine Linctus
• Day & Night Nurse Capsules
• Day Nurse Capsules
• Day Nurse
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has advised healthcare professionals to recommend different drugs instead.