Corex

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Corex is a cough syrup sold by Pfizer Inc. [1] It is available in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and a few other South Asian countries. Corex is a prescribed medicine. Its active ingredients are chlorpheniramine maleate and codeine phosphate. [1]

Contents

Mechanism of action

Chlorpheniramine maleate, an H1-blocking antihistamine, relieves histamine-induced allergic edema of respiratory mucosa. Codeine phosphate, by its action on the cough center in the medulla, helps reduce excessive frequency and intensity of cough bouts, which allows the patient to rest or sleep.

Legally, Corex can only be obtained by a physician's prescription, but studies show that more than 90% of the product is sold without one.

Corex is not generally a fatal drug substitute, unless taken in extremely high quantities. However, many side effects are common. Corex is known to cause short term memory loss, sleeplessness, tremors and spasms. Muscular pains and dehydration are other common side-effects.

Long term abuse leads to serious kidney damage or constipation. Corex has a high sugar content, and may be unsuitable for acute diabetic patients.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butamirate</span> Cough suppressant

Butamirate is a cough suppressant. It has been marketed in Europe and Mexico, but not in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxeladin</span> Chemical compound

Oxeladin is a cough suppressant. It is a highly potent and effective drug used to treat all types of cough of various etiologies. It is not related to opium or its derivatives, so treatment with oxeladin is free of risk of dependence or addiction. Oxeladin has none of the side effects which are present when common antitussives, such as codeine and its derivatives, are used. It may be used at every age, as well as in patients with heart disease, since it has a high level of safety and a great selectivity to act on the bulbar centre of cough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opiate</span> Substance derived from opium

An opiate is an alkaloid substance derived from opium. It differs from the similar term opioid in that the latter is used to designate all substances, both natural and synthetic, that bind to opioid receptors in the brain. Opiates are alkaloid compounds naturally found in the opium poppy plant Papaver somniferum. The psychoactive compounds found in the opium plant include morphine, codeine, and thebaine. Opiates have long been used for a variety of medical conditions, with evidence of opiate trade and use for pain relief as early as the eighth century AD. Most opiates are considered drugs with moderate to high abuse potential and are listed on various "Substance-Control Schedules" under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act of the United States of America.

References

  1. 1 2 "Pfizer stops selling popular Corex cough syrup in India after ban". Reuters . 14 March 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2024.

General references

  1. "LPD-Corex Dx syrup version 3.0.pdf" (PDF). Pfizer Inc. Oct 14, 2013.