Over-reliance on cough drops may cause stomach pain and breathing difficulty, Hong Kong Consumer Council warns
- Many throat lozenge companies do not scrupulously provide information on ingredients, side effects or daily intake limits, consumer watchdog finds
- Best practice is to buy products with registration number or consult medical professional
Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has warned intake of four lozenges of some cough drops could cause stomach discomfort, swelling of the face and breathing problems, while taking six throat lozenges a day could make one reach nearly half the recommended daily sugar intake.
The Consumer Council released its monthly report on Monday after testing 41 samples of popular throat lozenges. It found many samples without clear labelling of daily intake limits and directions for use. There were no warnings against improper use or an overdose either.
“Don’t over-rely on cough drops. A sore throat may indicate some underlying medical conditions, and cough drops can alleviate your discomfort and make you feel better. But they may also delay your [actual] medical treatment,” Nora Tam Fung-yee, chairwoman of the Council’s Research and Testing Committee, said.
“If your cough persists, you should consult a doctor.”
The report found four throat drop samples of Strepsils, a popular brand with Hongkongers, contained 2,4-dichlorobenzyl alcohol and amylmetacresol – both antiseptics used to treat mouth and throat infections – which could lead to stomach discomfort, irritation to the central nervous system, swelling of the face and breathing difficulties in case of an overdose.
The council also found excessive use – about eight tablets a day – of Dequadin Lozenges Lemon could lead to tongue and mouth pain, since it contained 0.25g of dequalinium chloride, a topical bacteriostat, in each lozenge.
