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Lahore, November 28, 2012 (PPI-OT): Addiction and the over-dose are the cause of the deaths and not the cough syrup that is being blamed for the causalities therefore the government should immediately stop harassment of the owners and the distributors.
Addressing a Press conference here Wednesday at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the LCCI President Farooq Iftikhar and Pharma Industry leaders including Khawaja Shahzeb Akram, Mian Misbahur Rehman, Amjad Ali Jawa, Mohammad Zakaur Rehman, Asad Shujaur Rehman and Nadeem Shami said that 16000 bottles of the same batch were supplied across the country while the incident took place in one locality only that is known as a hub of drug addicts. LCCI Senior Vice President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh and Vice President Mian Abuzar Shad also spoke on the occasion.
The LCCI President said that the law-enforcement agencies were well aware of the presence of a large number of drug addicts in that area and they should have taken some action against them well ahead of this incident.
Farooq Iftikhar also appealed to the Chief Minister Punjab Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif to direct concerned officers to stop action against the businessmen as it has caused much resentment among them because a haphazard action had already sent a wrong signal to the pharma industry.
Khawaja Shahzeb Akram said that Reko Pharmacal has been manufacturing the said cough syrup since 1978 and not a single such complaint of this nature came to the limelight previously as in this case the individuals who consumed Tyno did so with the purpose of intoxication. The misuse of any drug can cause serious consequences, which a company cannot be held liable for.
Explaining about the ingredients of the said syrup, Khawaja Shahzeb Akram said that Dextromethorphan is a widely used active ingredient in cough syrups worldwide. It is a safe antitussive/cough suppressant and its safe dosage is 5 ml (10 mg) every 5 to 6 hours, (the dose in Tyno- SF) and the maximum dosage should not exceed 20 ml in 24 hours as per instructions on the label.
It is a safe and effective cough suppressant if used as prescribed, there are over ten formulation of this product in the US alone, with some containing 15mg per 5ml. There are at least 7 registered dextromethorphan containing products in Pakistan also. Unfortunately, it was inadvertently used by these individuals in excess of the prescribed dose, without being fully aware of the disastrous consequences of it’s over dosage.
He said that as soon as the DTL report arrives, it would be released to the media in order to reassure the masses that Tyno does not contain any harmful ingredient, and is as efficacious for its stated indications as it has always been. This does not warrant criminal charges as no intention was made to murder any individual. We would like to reiterate that Reko has never compromised on its quality.
For more information, contact:
Shahid Khalil
Information Department
Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)
11-Shahrah-e-Aiwan-e-Tijarat,
Lahore -54000, Pakistan
Tel: +9242 111 222 499
Fax: +92 42 636 8854