Nigerian bans codeine-based cough syrups over abuse

ABUJA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government on Tuesday said it has banned the production and importation of cough syrups containing codeine as means of checking substance abuse, especially among the country's youths.

Health minister Isaac Adewole said the government has directed relevant agencies to enforce the ban, which includes halting the issuance of permits for the importation of codeine as an active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations.

"The government has also banned the sale of codeine-containing cough syrup without a prescription," Adewole said.

According to him, a directive had also been issued to government agencies to supervise the recall for labeling and audit trailing of all codeine-based cough syrups nationwide.

The ban on all codeine-based cough syrup came amid increased reports of the abuse of such substances in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country.

Codeine is a narcotic pain-reliever and cough suppressant similar to morphine and hydrocodone.

Getting and abusing codeine is relatively easy as it is less regulated than some opiates considered to be more dangerous.

Health experts had been calling for the ban of codeine in Nigeria as the abuse of the substance became incessant.

Adewole said cough syrups containing codeine would be replaced with dextromethorphan which is less addictive.

The dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant used to treat coughing, and also a drug of the morphinan class with sedative, dissociative, and stimulant properties. Enditem