Revealed: The full list of medicines withdrawn over allergy concerns and why

Pholcodine can trigger allergic reactions and is common in cough syrups

The public are being advised to speak with their local pharmacy (Getty Images)

Popular cough medicines are being withdrawn from sale over fears people may suffer a serious allergic reaction.

– What has happened?

Watchdog the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has ordered some products off the shelves over worries about the potential for people to suffer a rare allergic reaction.

It says cough medicines containing the ingredient pholcodine are being recalled and withdrawn from the UK “as a precaution”.

This follows assessment of the risk of “very rare” anaphylaxis – a major allergic reaction – when people who have taken pholcodine in the previous 12 months have a general anaesthetic with neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA).

The MHRA said: “The available data has demonstrated that pholcodine use, particularly in the 12 months before general anaesthesia with NMBAs, is a risk factor for developing an anaphylactic reaction to NMBAs.”

– What are NMBAs?

Neuromuscular blocking drugs are also known as muscle relaxants and data suggests they are used in around half of general anaesthetics administered in the UK.

NMBAs block the transmission of signals between motor nerve endings and skeletal muscles, preventing the affected muscles from contracting.

One use is when a patient needs to be intubated, with the NMBA paralysing or relaxing the jaw and the vocal cords.

– Which products are being withdrawn?

The following products have been recalled:

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

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

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

Pholcodine Linctus BP, PL 04917/0002

Strong Pholcodine Linctus BP, PL 04917/0005

Pholcodine Linctus, PL 12965/0030

Day & Night Nurse Capsules, PL 44673/0068

Day Nurse Capsules, PL 44673/0069

Day Nurse, PL 44673/0075

– What should patients do?

Patients are being advised to tell their anaesthetist if they think they have taken pholcodine in the previous year and are about to undergo general anaesthetic.

The MHRA says people should also check products in their home (such as the packaging, label or patient information leaflet) to see if any contain pholcodine.

It said people can talk to their pharmacist about other suitable medications for relief from coughing.