The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned of the risk of death from dosing errors with hydrocodone plus chlorpheniramine extended-release suspension (Tussionex Pennkinetic, UCB). Deaths have been reported in children under six, who are particularly sensitive to hydrocodone's effect of slowing breathing; the medicine must not be given to children under six.
Overdoses have also been reported when the medicine was taken in larger doses than recommended, or more often than every 12 hours, according to MedWatch.
Patients should measure each dose with an oral syringe or a marked measuring spoon, because household spoons vary in size and give the wrong dose. The medicine is prescribed for cough and upper respiratory symptoms of allergy or colds in adults and children aged six and over. Side effects can be reported to the FDA's MedWatch programme or to your national medicines regulator.
Update: since 2018 the FDA has restricted prescription cough medicines containing opioids such as hydrocodone to adults only.
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