Recreational use?: Another cough syrup claims at least 16 lives

Officials suspect the deaths could be caused by overdose.

LAHORE:

At least 16 people have died in Punjab since December 26, after consuming a ‘toxic’ cough syrup, according to several reports.

Conflicting reports regarding the details of deaths have emerged. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Gujranawala DCO Najam Ahmed Shah confirmed that so far 16 deaths have occurred since Wednesday, a number which was also quoted by the Punjab chief minister’s special adviser on health, Khawaja Salman Rafique. However, unconfirmed reports from the Gujranwala District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital later in the day counted 10 more fatalities, pushing the death toll up to 26.

Other numbers were also conflicting. Shah said that out of the 16 deaths, 13 had been reported at DHQ hospital Gujranwala, 1 in Kamoki and 2 in Lahore. He added that a total of 12 patients had been referred to Lahore’s Mayo Hospital, where  2 passed away,  8 were discharged and 2 others are currently being treated. However, Rafique said that 3 people died in Kamoki and 2 at Mayo hospital. He also said that 3 patients were being treated at Mayo Hospital in Lahore while 4 were currently admitted in the ICU ward of DHQ Gujranwala.

Meanwhile, Mayo Hospital’s Medical Superintendent, Dr Zahid Pervaiz told The Express Tribune that 11 patients were admitted to the hospital, most of whom were discharged on Thursday. As of Friday, only three patients were under treatment at the hospital, according to Pervaiz.

All the victims reportedly consumed a cough syrup being sold under the name ‘Dextromethorphan’. The substance dextromethorphan has been identified as an active ingredient in Tyno cough syrup, as well, which claimed 19 lives in Lahore last month.

On Thursday night, the Gujranwala City District team, along with the police, conducted raids in medical stores throughout the city. Shah said 8, 765 syrup bottles had been confiscated from 96 medical stores out of a total of 224 which had been raided in the area.



Shah added that it was necessary to conduct investigations based on scientific grounds in order to ascertain the exact cause of the deaths.

The Punjab government had ordered a probe into last month’s deaths. Initial reports suggested the deaths were caused by intoxicants added to the Tyno syrup.

Rafique, shot down reports which connected the deaths to the consumption of the cough syrup, saying those who died in Gujranwala and in Lahore last month could also be drug-addicts who died of an overdose. He added the syrup was better known as ‘Council’ among addicts who used it as a recreational drug.

“We have to determine whether the deaths are caused by overdose or by consuming a regular dosage of the syrup… We must also examine if there is a drug reaction at work here causing the fatalities,” he said.

Gujranwala District Coordination Officer Najam Ahmed Shah also claimed Friday’s deaths were caused by an overdose of the cough syrup.

The marketing manager of Dextromethorphan syrup’s dealer in Gujranwala has reportedly been apprehended, while reports of a crackdown at Mian Medical Store, the city’s largest supplier of the syrup, have also emerged.

According to Dr Zahid, the patients who consumed the syrup complained of nausea, drowsiness and chills. He added the patients’ history indicated they were all drug-addicts who had frequently consumed opium and hashish over the past 10 years.

“At this stage it is very difficult to trace the patients’ condition directly to the consumption of the cough syrup,” he said, adding it will require further tests. His statement lends credence to both Rafique and Shah’s suggestion that the deaths may have been caused by overdose.

Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of the deaths and ordered an immediate inquiry into the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2012.