Over-the-counter sales of cough syrup or codeine linctus could be banned because of concerns it is addictive and can lead to serious health problems.
The UK medicines safety regulator is receiving rising numbers of reports of drug abuse and dependence to codeine medicines with multiple reports that Codeine Linctus is being used recreationally for its opioid effects, rather than for its intended use as a cough suppressant.
Codeine linctus is “an effective medicine”, but “as it is an opioid, its misuse and abuse can have major health consequences”, said Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
