Everyday cold and flu medicines are being withdrawn from sale after fears they could be deadly.
Products being pulled include Day & Night Nurse and Covonia – also Boots and Superdrug own brand remedies.
The medicines have been removed as a “precaution” following a review.
Most contain pholcodine.
The study found the benefits of pholcodine-containing cough and cold medicines “do not outweigh the increased risk of the very rare event of anaphylaxis”.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which polices the safety of drugs used in Britain, was behind the review.
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer said:
“Safety is our top priority, and we keep the safety of medicines under continual review.
“Following a thorough scientific safety review of all the available evidence on pholcodine, together with advice from the independent Commission on Human Medicines, it has been recommended, as a precautionary measure, that these products should no longer be used.
“If you have an operation scheduled using general anaesthesia, tell your anaesthetist if you think you have used pholcodine, particularly in the past 12 months.
“The anaesthetist will be well placed to take this into account.
“Anaesthetists are highly trained in managing anaphylaxis.
‘If you want more information or advice, please speak to your pharmacist.”
Pholcodine-containing products are only available in the UK for purchase in a pharmacy.
