Cough syrups containing pholcodin will be banned in the European Union because they can cause a very dangerous allergic reaction to general anesthesia, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced on Friday.
These syrups, intended to treat dry cough in both children and adults, can be dangerous even if consumed well before anesthesia.
“The use of pholcodine in the previous 12 months can cause, at the time of general anesthesia, an anaphylactic reaction”, a “sudden and severe allergic reaction that can cause death”, the EMA specified in a press release announcing its decision. that will be applied prior administrative approval.
Just retired in France
These medicines, used since the 1950s, were until recently sold in Belgium, Croatia, France, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Slovenia, in particular under the brand names Dimethane, Biocalyptol and Broncalene.
However, the French health authorities had indicated in September that the marketing authorization for these syrups had been withdrawn and that those that were already in pharmacies or health centers would be withdrawn from circulation.
In April 2020, at the height of the Covid epidemic, of which dry cough was one of the main symptoms, they also recommended not to use this type of syrup.
Source: BFM TV
