Telangana, Oct 08 : Drug Control Administration (TGDCA) on Wednesday issued an urgent alert to halt the use of two cough syrups Relife and Respifresh TR after tests by Madhya Pradesh’s drug laboratory found them contaminated with Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a highly toxic substance. This follows the deaths of 20 children in Madhya Pradesh linked to the cough syrup Coldrif.
The Directorate of Public Health and Family Welfare has advised healthcare institutions to exercise extreme caution while administering cough syrups to children, especially those under five years of age.
TGDCA Director Shahnawaz Qasim directed all drug inspectors and assistant directors across the state to immediately notify retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and hospitals to freeze existing stocks of the affected batches. The syrups must not be sold or dispensed under any circumstances.
The public has been urged to stop using these cough syrups immediately if in possession and report them to the nearest Drug Control Authority. Authorities emphasized the serious health risks associated with DEG toxicity, which can be fatal.
Both Relife and Respifresh TR have expiry dates of December 2026, and the state has called for heightened vigilance to prevent further health hazards.