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Writer's pictureHealthwatch West Berkshire
Mar 21, 20232 min read

Cough, cold and flu medicines recalled

List of cough, cold and flu medicines recalled

A recent review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) a decision has been reached that all medicines containing cough suppressant pholcodine are being withdrawn from sale as a precaution.



This is due to its potential to cause a severe allergic reaction when combined with general anaesthetic (although a small risk). The medicines will be no longer available from pharmacies.


Please see the list of medicines and current advice below.


Medicines being recalled:


  • Boots Night Cough Relief Oral Solution

  • Boots Dry Cough Syrup 6 Years+

  • Boots Day Cold & Flu Relief Oral Solution

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  • Cofsed Linctus

  • Care Pholcodine 5mg/5ml Oral Solution Sugar Free

  • Galenphol Linctus

  • Galenphol Paediatric Linctus

  • Galenphol Strong Linctus

  • Covonia Dry Cough Sugar Free Formula

  • Pholcodine Linctus Bells Healthcare 5mg Per 5ml Oral Solution

  • Numark Pholcodine 5mg per 5ml Oral Solution

  • Well Pharmaceuticals Pholcodine 5mg per 5ml Oral Solution

  • Superdrug Pholcodine Linctus BP

  • Strong Pholcodine Linctus BP

  • Pholcodine Linctus BP

  • Strong Pholcodine Linctus BP

  • Pholcodine Linctus

  • Day & Night Nurse Capsules

  • Day Nurse Capsules

  • Day Nurse

Current advice is as follows:

 If you are taking a cough medicine (including tablets and syrups), 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 can suggest a different medicine suitable for you.


Tell your anaesthetist before you have surgery if you think you have taken pholcodine, particularly in the past 12 months, or think you may have taken a pholcodine-containing product.


There is no increased risk of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, with other allergens following pholcodine use, but patients should talk to a pharmacist, their GP or their surgical team if they have any questions. Anaesthetists routinely manage the risk of allergic reactions during surgery.

Any suspected adverse reactions should be reported via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. 

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