Pholcodine

Pholcodine is an opioid used to treat dry coughs. Until its withdrawl it was available in single ingredient products e.g. Boots Dry Cough Syrup 6 Years+, Covonia Dry Cough Sugar Free Formula, or in multi-ingredient cough and cold products such as Boots Day Cold & Flu Relief Oral Solution or Day Nurse Capsules and Syrup.

What is the issue? How can I support customers?

A connection has been found between patients who have taken pholcodine, and a very rare allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to muscle relaxants used during surgery under general anaesthetic.¹ The MHRA have decided that, although it is a very rare occurrence, the risk of anaphylaxis outweighs the benefit of using pholcodine and have therefore withdrawn all pholcodine-containing products from the UK market.¹

How can I support customers?

You may have customers who have read about the withdrawal of pholcodine and have concerns. You can reassure them that there are no concerns about the safety of pholcodine itself, just the rare interaction with muscle relaxants used in surgery.² However, you should advise them that if they have any surgery in the future, they should inform the anaesthetist that they have taken pholcodine previously (particularly if it is within the last 12 months).²