Day and Night Nurse among drugs pulled from UK shelves over allergic shock fears
COUGH and cold medicines are being pulled from shop shelves over allergic shock fears.
Drugs including Day Nurse and Night Nurse are being taken off the British market due to a “very rare” risk of anaphylaxis.
The reaction — also known as anaphylactic shock — is severe and potentially life-threatening.
Patients could be at risk of the reaction when going under a type of general anaesthesia if they took products containing the cough suppressant pholcodine a year before.
A Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency spokesperson said: “All pholcodine-containing medicines are being withdrawn from the UK as a precaution.”
Thorrun Govind, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: “Withdrawal is the safest option and is in line with action already taken by the European Medicines Agency.
“Patients with products in the home that contain pholcodine, such as Day Nurse, can still use them to treat symptoms of cold and flu.
“Pharmacists can advise on appropriate treatment alternatives if someone is concerned.”
The products being recalled include Covonia as well as own-brand versions of the remedies from Boots and Superdrug.
The MHRA review found patients may be at a greater risk of anaphylaxis when going under general anaesthesia using neuromuscular blocking agents if they previously took the drugs.
It said benefits of the medicines “do not outweigh the increased risk of the very rare event of anaphylaxis”.
Anaphylactic shock symptoms include light-headedness, breathing difficulties, wheezing, a fast heartbeat and clammy skin.
If it occurs during an operation, anaesthetists are highly trained to manage it, the MHRA said.
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA chief safety officer said: “Safety is our top priority, and we keep the safety of medicines under continual review.
“If you are taking a cough or cold medicine, check the packaging, label or patient information leaflet to see if pholcodine is a listed ingredient.
“If it is, and you have any questions, you can talk to your pharmacist who will suggest an alternative medicine.”
Patients with an operation under general anaesthesia scheduled should tell their anaesthetist if they think they have had pholcodine in the past 12 months, she added.