Telangana issues alert over 2 more cough syrups

The Drug Control Administration (DCA) of Telangana has issued an alert to immediately stop the use of two cough syrups—Relife and Respifresh TR—across the state following an alert from the drug testing laboratory of the Madhya Pradesh government, which found them adulterated with a highly toxic substance, Diethylene Glycol (DEG). This comes in the wake of the deaths of 20 children after consuming cough syrup, Coldrif.

Earlier, the TGDCA had issued a similar alert over Coldrif cough syrup after the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The Directorate of Public Health and Family Welfare has also issued an advisory to all healthcare institutions across the state, advocating judicious use of cough syrups in children, particularly for those under the age of five.

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TGDCA Director Shahnawaz Qasim has directed all drug inspectors and assistant directors across the state to immediately alert all retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and hospitals to freeze any available stocks of the said product batches and ensure that the same are not dispensed or sold under any circumstances. “…the public is hereby strongly advised to immediately stop the use of these two cough syrups, if in possession, and report the same to the nearest Drug Control Authority,” said the public notice.

It further urged the public to “exercise utmost caution and refrain from using the aforementioned products to avert any potential health hazard associated with Diethylene Glycol toxicity.” The two cough syrups, Relife and Respifresh TR, have expiry dates of December 2026.