Common over-the-counter drugs for colds, flu and headaches could be banned after scientists found a link to a rare brain condition - according to reports. Officials are investigating whether the chemical pseudoephedrine needs to be redesignated as dangerous meaning it could be banned or made prescription only.
The chemical is used in the most popular painkillers, decongestants, cold and flu medicines sold in shops across the UK, reports The Mirror. The Pharmaceutical Journal reported the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is "reviewing available evidence" to decide whether the rules around pseudoephedrine-medicines needed to change.
But Whitehall sources told the Mail Online that any change was unlikely. The drug works by easing swollen blood vessels in the sinuses, which is what causes blocked noses, but there are fears it could be linked to two disorders that can affect the brain.
Health chiefs at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) started their own review into the drug just a few weeks ago.
This comes "following concerns about the risk of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), conditions affecting blood vessels in the brain."
A "small number of cases of PRES and RCVS", officials didn't confirm how many, linked to people taking pseudoephedrine-containing medicine triggered the review.
The two conditions lead to a reduced blood supply to the brain which can cause life-threatening complications and death.
According to the NHS, PRES has a number of symptoms including headaches, vision problems, mental changes, seizures and even swelling on the brain.
The most telling symptom of RCVS is a severe "thunderclap" headache.
Pseudoephedrine-containing medicines are already known to have a very small risk of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases - this includes heart attacks and strokes.
Warnings about such issues are included in product information leaflets and there are sale restrictions in place on such drugs to stop too large an amount being sold at once.
However the drugs are sold and used daily almost without incident. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have been approached for comment.
