Centre To Ban Three Types Of Codeine-Based Syrups After MPs Raise Concerns: Report

Codeine is an opioid-based analgesic that is mostly used to treat coughing, discomfort, and diarrhea.

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The Modi administration plans to prohibit some preparations to curb the abuse of codeine-based medications in India, News 18 reported.

Codeine is an opioid-based analgesic that is mostly used to treat coughing, discomfort, and diarrhea.

It is one of the natural plant alkaloids present in opium extracts. However, these medications have become one of the substances utilized for drug abuse, and these medicines, syrups, are taken recreationally.

In an effort to find a solution, the government has decided to prohibit three types of codeine preparations: codeine with chlorpheniramine, codeine with chlorpheniramine and menthol, and pholcodine with promethazine. Tossex, Ascoril C, Codistar, Planokuf, and Tedykoff are among the syrups included in these categories, according to News 18 report.

On July 20, News18 initially reported that the government is revisiting its policy to prohibit the manufacture and sale of codeine-based cough syrups, after concerns voiced by many legislators that they are being used as narcotic drugs rather than medicines.

In March, the health ministry urged the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to "conduct a review and submit a recommendation" in response to a request from many MPs to health minister Mansukh Mandaviya to prohibit cough syrups.

According to the government's internal research, the states with the highest consumption of these preparations are Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Karnataka.

“The ministry is now debating on how to phase out other preparations made from codeine. For instance: the combination of codeine with triprolidine is also beneficial for TB and cancer patients,” the official was quoted by News 18 in its report. 

However, the identical combination of codeine and triprolidine is also utilised in the production of popular cough syrup brands such as Abbott's Phensydyl and Pfizer's Corex T, both of which are misused and used recreationally.

"The government may decide to gradually phase out other combinations.  We are considering reducing the quota of codeine supply to the pharma company by 20% every year," the official said, adding that the deliberations are still in their "nascent stage."