In a major step to protect public health, the Himachal Pradesh drug authorities have banned the sale, purchase, and use of the cough syrup Planokuf D after it was found to contain a toxic chemical. The syrup, which includes cetirizine hydrochloride, phenylephrine hydrochloride, and dextromethorphan hydrobromide, tested positive for 0.35% diethylene glycol (DEG), a poisonous compound that can seriously damage the kidneys and nervous system.
Tests carried out by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation’s (CDSCO) Guwahati laboratory confirmed the contamination and labelled the product as “not of standard quality.” The affected batch, R25053101, was manufactured in February 2025 and was due to expire in January 2027. Made by Roorkee-based Shreya Lifesciences Private Limited, this is the fourth cough syrup banned in Himachal since October.
State Drugs Controller Dr Manish Kapoor has instructed all hospitals, pharmacies, distributors, and medical practitioners to immediately stop the use and sale of the product. Field officers have been sent out to make sure the syrup is withdrawn from pharmacy shelves without delay.
This move comes after earlier bans on Coldrif, Respifresh TR, and Relife syrups, which were also found to contain the same toxic impurity. The crackdown follows growing concern after 12 deaths in Madhya Pradesh were linked to cough syrups contaminated with DEG, a byproduct found in propylene glycol, a base ingredient used in many such medicines. Authorities have now stepped up random testing to prevent any repeat of such incidents.
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