‘What are we supposed to do? Wait two weeks to get a Sudafed prescription?’: Britons react to news that drug could be pulled from UK shelves or made prescription-only because of links to rare brain disorders
- Medical regulators are ‘reviewing available evidence,’ it has emerged
- People have been reacting on social media – one said ‘this can’t be serious?’
Britons have reacted after it was revealed Sudafed could be pulled from UK shelves or even made prescription-only because of links to extremely rare but deadly brain disorders.
Medical regulators are ‘reviewing available evidence’ to see if the rules on selling pseudoephedrine need to change, it emerged yesterday.
‘This can’t be serious? What are we supposed to do? Wait two weeks for a GP appointment for a prescription?’ One tweeted.
Another wrote: ‘Is it just the tablets or the spray as well? I never run out of the #Sudafed nasal spray, I have one on my bedside table right now.’
Health chiefs are spooked by reports of patients being struck down with two rare conditions. Both can cause strokes.
Other decongestants, such as products made by Benylin, Nurofen and Day & Night Nurse, would also be affected if any change was necessary.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which polices the safety of drugs used in Britain, is behind the review
Dozens of own-brand remedies — including ones at Boots and Lloyds — also contain the chemical.
It works by narrowing swollen blood vessels in the sinuses — which causes the nose to become blocked in the first place.
One woman reacting to the news on social media wrote: ‘I welcome this ban and if you can add codeine based products to that it would be amazing.
‘Got abuse tonight from someone wanting two packs of Sudafed!!!!’
Another said: ‘Who takes these anyway?’
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which polices the safety of drugs used in Britain, is behind the review.
A spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We will provide any further advice as appropriate. If people have concerns, they should speak to their pharmacist or doctor.’
Whitehall sources told this website it was possible but unlikely that pseudoephedrine will be subject to a rule change following the review.
The Pharmaceutical Journal, which first reported the news, claimed it was to decide ‘whether marketing authorisations for pseudoephedrine-containing medicines need to change’.
Bosses at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) launched their own review into the safety of the medicine less than a fortnight ago.
Social media reaction after news broke that medical regulators are ‘reviewing available evidence’ to see if the rules on selling pseudoephedrine need to change
Which medications contain pseudoephedrine and where are they sold?
Sudafed decongestant tablets (12 tablets)
Each tablet contains 60mg of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride
LloydsPharmacy, £4.79
Day & Night Nurse Cold and Flu (24 capsules)
Each daytime capsule contains 30mg of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride
Boots, £9.35
Benylin 4 Flu, (24 tablets)
Each tablet contains 22.5mg of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride
Boots, £6
Nurofen Cold & Flu 24 Tablets
Each tablet contains 30mg of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride
Medino, £6.39
Lloydspharmacy decongestant tablets (12 tablets)
Each tablet contains pseudoephedrine hydrochloride
Lloydspharmacy, £3.55
Care Decongestant Tablets (12 tablets)
Each tablet contains 60mg of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride
Chemist4U, £1.89
Boots decongestant tablets (12 tablets)
Each tablet contains 60mg of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride
Boots, £3.65
Sinutab Non-Drowsy Congestion Relief (15 tablets)
Each tablet contains 30mg of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride
Chemist4U, £5.79
Benadryl Plus Capsules (12 tablets)
Each capsule contains 60mg of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride
Boots, £6.09
Contac Non-drowsy Dual Relief Capsules (18 capsules)
Each capsule contains 30mg of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride
Weldricks, £4.55
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