COUGH and cold season is still going strong.
But the UK’s healthcare watchdog yesterday announced that drugs including Day Nurse and Night Nurse are being taken off shop shelves.
There are a number of alternatives you can turn to for treating coughs and colds
All products containing the cough suppressant pholcodine are being recalled due to a “very rare” risk of anaphylaxis, a potentially life threatening reaction.
Day and Night Nurse, Covonia dry cough syrup, some Boots and Superdrug cough syrups and Pholcodine Linctus bottles are just some of the products recalled.
A Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency spokesperson described the move as a “precaution”.
Patients could be at risk of anaphylactic shock when going under general anaesthesia if they took products containing pholcodine a year before.
It comes after the watchdog started reviewing high street nasal decongestants because of their link to potentially serious brain side effects last month.
How can I treat my cold?
If you’re stuck with an annoying cough or cold but don’t know how to treat it, there are a few ways to go about it.
Dr Leyla Hannbeck, a pharmacist and chief executive of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, told The Sun that ‘a cough should normally last one to two weeks and can go away by itself’.
But you’ve got a dry ‘unproductive cough’ and are looking for products to treat it, she said there were many cough medicine alternatives to choose from, ‘particularly products containing the substance dextromethorphan’.
She gave the examples of Benylin and Robitussin.
If your child has a cough, she recommended glycerin syrup.
“We also advise people who have a cough to drink tea with lemon and honey – honey particularly has soothing effect on coughs,” Dr Hannbeck explained.
“If the cough lasts longer than two weeks, people should see a healthcare professional,” she added.
Meanwhile the NHS recommended a few ways to shake off a cold more quickly.
It said you should:
have plenty of rest and sleep drink lots of water to avoid dehydration – fruit juice or squash mixed with water is okif you have a sore throat, gargle salt water – the NHS noted that this last option is not suitable for childrenstay home and avoid contact with other people – especially if you have a high temperature
It also advised you speak to a pharmacist about the best cough and cold medicine to take.
If you’re feeling achy or have a temperature, you can take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen.
And to relieve a blocked nose, you can take decongestant sprays or tablets.
But you shouldn’t use cough and cold medicines if you’re taking paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets, the NHS cautioned.
“Cough and cold medicines often also contain paracetamol and ibuprofen so it can be easy to take more than the recommended dose,” it said.
Meanwhile, the NHS noted there’s little evidence that supplements such as vitamin C, echinacea or garlic prevent colds or speed up recovery.
Symptoms of a cold
According to NHS guidance, cold symptoms come on gradually.
You’ll know you have one if you have:
a blocked or runny nose
a sore throat
headaches
muscle aches
coughs
sneezing
a raised temperature
pressure in your ears and face
loss of taste and smell
Meanwhile you can avoid catching a cold by:
washing your hands well with warm water and soap
not sharing towels or household items (like cups) with someone who has a cold
not touching your eyes or nose in case you have come into contact with the virus
staying fit and healthy
WHAT PRODUCTS ARE BEING RECALLED?
Boots Night Cough Relief Oral Solution, PL 00014/0230Boots Dry Cough Syrup 6 Years+, PL 00014/0523Boots Day Cold & Flu Relief Oral Solution, PL 00014/0565Cofsed Linctus, PL 00240/0097Care Pholcodine 5mg/5ml Oral Solution Sugar Free, PL 00240/0101Galenphol Linctus, PL 00240/0101Galenphol Paediatric Linctus, PL 00240/0102Galenphol Strong Linctus, PL 00240/0103Covonia Dry Cough Sugar Free Formula, PL 00240/0353Pholcodine Linctus Bells Healthcare 5mg Per 5ml Oral Solution, PL 03105/0059Numark Pholcodine 5mg per 5ml Oral Solution, PL 03105/0059Well Pharmaceuticals Pholcodine 5mg per 5ml Oral Solution, PL 03105/0059Superdrug Pholcodine Linctus BP, PL 03105/0059Strong Pholcodine Linctus BP, PL 03105/0060Pholcodine Linctus BP, PL 04917/0002Strong Pholcodine Linctus BP, PL 04917/0005Pholcodine Linctus, PL 12965/0030Day & Night Nurse Capsules, PL 44673/0068Day Nurse Capsules, PL 44673/0069Day Nurse, PL 44673/0075
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA chief safety officer said: “If you are taking a cough or cold medicine, 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 will suggest an alternative medicine.”
If you have an operation scheduled and think you had one of the drugs in the last 12 months, you should tell your anaesthetist, Dr Cave said.
Anaphylactic shock symptoms include light-headedness, breathing difficulties, wheezing, a fast heartbeat and clammy skin.
If it occurs during an operation, anaesthetists are highly trained to manage it, the MHRA said.