Friday, June 07, 2024

No traces of diethylene glycol found in Benylin paediatric cough syrup, finds SAHPRA

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) says it has found no traces of diethylene glycol in the Benylin paediatric cough syrup.

This comes after SAHPRA recalled two batches of the cough syrup, in April, after the Nigerian National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) raised concerns about the medicine containing high levels of diethylene glycol.

COURTESY: Benylin


Ethylene glycol is toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal. The effects include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury that may lead to death.

“The recall was implemented as a precaution to protect lives, while SAHPRA investigated the reported high levels of diethylene glycol,” the local drug watchdog explained.

“As part of the investigation of the reported high levels of diethylene glycol, SAHPRA tested samples of the two affected batches of Benylin paediatric syrup through an independent laboratory and a method developed by the World Health Organisation for testing products for the presence of diethylene glycol. The tests did not find traces of diethylene glycol in the recalled batches.

“This indicates that units of batches 329303 and 329304, that were stored at the required temperature, would not contain unacceptable levels of diethylene glycol,” the statement read.

The watchdog also indicated that there was no record of any adverse drug reactions relating to diethylene glycol for the two recalled batches in South Africa or anywhere else where they were exported in Africa.

“SAHPRA will continue to closely monitor medical products that have the potential of containing unacceptable levels of diethylene glycol. And we will continue to address safety concerns or quality issues so that the health of the public is protected,” said SAHPRA CEO, Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela.

 

Done by: Mitchum George

No comments:

Two suspects were arrested for being in possession of abalone

Maitland Flying Squad members arrested two suspects aged 32 and 39-year-old for the possession of abalone. Picture by: SAPS/X The members ...