The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu Senior Reporter
A COUGH syrup that has been banned in its source country — India — for its addictive nature is still being prescribed and sold in Zimbabwe raising fears that it may be abused just like Broncleer popularly known as bronco on the streets. India banned Phensedyl cough linctus which is manufactured by Indian company Abbot which has, however, been fighting the ban in the Indian courts after it was discovered that the syrup contains narcotic codeine. Misuse of narcotic drugs can cause addiction, overdose or death, according to health experts.
The syrup, prescribed for flu, used to command a third of India’s cough syrup market and makes up over three percent of the company’s $1 billion in revenue. However, investigations revealed that local doctors and pharmacies are still prescribing and selling the drug despite the Indian ban.
Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) spokesperson Mr Richard Rukwata said the cough mixture was still approved and safe to use.
“Phensedyl is indeed registered and controlled in the country, however, it should come with instructions on how to use it.
“It is also a prescription type of medication that cannot be accessed over the counter. If there is any pharmacy that is selling it over the counter then that makes it illegal,” he said.
He admitted that the mixture contains very high amounts of codeine which is a narcotic pain-reliever and cough suppressant that contains morphine and induces sleep when taken.
“In every 5 millilitres (ml) of Phensedyl there is 9ml of codeine which is rather high, so when a doctor prescribes that a patient takes 20mls of the syrup it basically means they will have 36mls of codeine in their system which is a lot,” said Mr Rukwata.
He said the effects of Phensedyl cough linctus were similar to those of Broncleer.
“There is no difference between Phensedyl and Broncleer, what is important to note is the level of control that is there with these medicines. In South Africa where Broncleer is coming from there are not very tight on security compared to the security we have on our medicines in Zimbabwe,” said Mr Rukwata.
He stressed that the fact that India has banned the use of Phensedyl, does not apply that it is illegal to use it in Zimbabwe. He said if India was having challenges in controlling the sale of this cough mixture then this was not applicable to Zimbabwe as the country has controlled its sale by demanding a prescription for one to buy it.
The cough mixture is among 350 fixed dose combination products which India banned early this year. According to reports, the cough mixture was causing diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh as the former was saying its people were getting intoxicated after consuming the drug.
According to the Times of India, this high demand for the syrup in Bangladesh was exploited not only by smugglers but also by some in the pharmaceutical industry.
In 2015, state-run laboratories in West Bengal found twice the amount of Codeine (21,37 mg/5 ml dosage instead of 10 mg/5 ml) in a batch of Phensedyl bottles, leading to a major row.
