Growing Addiction Risk Sparks UK Cough Syrup Pharmacy Restrictions

Cough syrup or codeine linctus, a widely available over-the-counter medication, may soon face restrictions due to mounting concerns about its addictive nature and potential for serious health problems. The UK medicines safety regulator has received an increasing number of reports highlighting drug abuse and dependence on codeine-containing medicines, prompting a call for reclassification as a prescription-only medication to address the fears of misuse. Pharmacists also express concerns about the risk of overdose associated with codeine linctus.

Codeine linctus, an oral solution or syrup containing codeine phosphate, is commonly sold in pharmacies as a cough remedy. However, some individuals are misusing ...