PHA-Exchange> Re: Codeine Cough Mixture Abuse, "PHENSEDYL in BANGLADESH" an example

[Dr Md Sayedur Rahman Khasru]

In Bangladesh, codeine containing cough preparations were banned in Drug (Control) Ordinance 1982, due to its abuse potential as mentioned by Consumers Association of Penang. As a consequence of "deregulation in the name of liberalization", codeine phosphate and pholcodeine were approved later as single ingredient antitussive agent. 
According to law of Bangladesh, these agents are prescription only medicine. However, the fallacy is "to become a prescriber in Bangladesh, you need only a pen and a piece of paper". Even if someone don't have those, he/she can buy drug from the pharmacy (there are very few exceptions in this regard).

In this connection, I like to share another experience of Bangladesh regarding codeine containing cough linctus. It was expected from the Indian experts that they mention few words about "PHENSEDYL", a combination of 

Promethazine HCl           3.6 mg per 5 ml

Codeine Phosphate         9 mg per 5 ml

Ephedrine HCl                7.2 mg per 5 ml

Though this so-called cough suppressant is banned in Bangladesh, "PHENSEDYL" is the number one abused medicine by the addicts in our country and thereby producing huge social instability especially in the youth encouraging them to commit crime. This experience and observation could be referred to relevant regulatory authority to justify banning of codeine containing cough suppressant as either a combination or single ingredient product. In addition, it should be mentioned here that banning of such product in only one country is not sufficient. Production of these codeine containing cough preparations in neighboring country can also be disastrous. Therefore, the initiative of Consumers Association of Penang should be supported by similar organizations of other "PHENSEDYL" manufacturing countries.

 

Dr Md Sayedur Rahman

Assistant Professor
Department of Pharmacology
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University
Shahbag
Dhaka
Bangladesh
Tel:     +88 02 8619438 (Home)
           +88 01 1840757 (Mobile)
E-mail:  srkhasru at bdcom.com
           

AND

General Secretary 
Health Action Forum (HAF) Trust
Dhaka, Bangladesh

E-mail: haf at bttb.net.bd    


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