Britain’s medicines safety regulator has invited public comment on ending over-the-counter sales of codeine-based cough syrup, which is increasingly being used recreationally for its opioid effects, and could have serious health consequences.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has asked people for their views on changing codeine linctus – with the active ingredient codeine phosphate and which is used to treat a dry cough – to a prescription-only medicine.
This follows multiple reports that the syrup is being abused. Since 2018, 116 reports were received by the MHRA of recreational drug abuse of, dependence on, and/or withdrawal from codeine medicines, including codeine linctus.
Professor Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, told The Independent: “We believe there is insufficient robust evidence for the benefits of codeine linctus in treating coughs safely and appropriately. We also have significant concerns about its misuse and addictive potential, as well as the risk of overdose.”
Studies suggest as many as 60% of people are prone to opioid dependence.
According to the MHRA, there were 277 serious or fatal reactions to medicines containing codeine in 2021, and 243 in 2022. This year, there have already been 95.
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