DURO-TUSS FORTE LINCTUS 45mg/15ml

Product Information

Registration Status: Active

DURO-TUSS FORTE LINCTUS 45mg/15ml is approved to be sold in Singapore with effective from 1993-01-18. It is marketed by INOVA PHARMACEUTICALS (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD, with the registration number of SIN07310P.

This product contains Pholcodine 45mg/15ml in the form of ELIXIR. It is approved for ORAL use.

This product is manufactured by Ensign Laboratories Pty Ltd in AUSTRALIA.

It is a Pharmacy Only Medicine that can be obtained from a pharmacist at a retail pharmacy.

Pholcodine

Description

Pholcodine formula is 3-o-morpholinoethylmorphine and it is classified as an antitussive which is defined as an opioid cough suppressant. It belongs to the opioid family of compounds and it is widely used.[A31738] Pholcodine activity is the suppression of unproductive cough and it also has a mild sedative effect with little or no analgesic effects.[A31742] Pholcodine is not prescribed in the United States where it is classed as a Schedule I drug. It is categorized as Class B drug in the UK and officially taken out of the shelves in 2008. Pholcodine is not approved in Canada.

Indication

Pholcodine is indicated as a cough suppressant for the temporary relief of non-productive dry cough. It is stated to present a required label indication of "temporary relief of dry cough."[L1200] Cough is the respiratory movement that occurs after an irritation signal is transmitted to the central nervous system and further stimulates the medulla oblongata. This stimulation causes a motor output that is sent through motoneurons to the respiratory muscles. A non-productive cough is a type of cough characterized by the absence of sputum, and it has a large inspiration that will cause continuous coughing.

Mechanism of Action

The mechanism of action of pholcodine is directly performed in the medulla oblongata. In this site, it exerts analgesic properties on the peripheric reflexogenic receptors. This site is commonly known as the "cough center."[L1202]

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption
After oral administration of 60 mg of pholcodine, the Tmax and Cmax are reported to be 1.3 hours and 26.3 ng/ml. In the same administration, the AUC in plasma and saliva are reported to be 1.67 and 6.61 mg h/l respectively. The absorption of pholcodine is reported to represent approximately 88% of the administered dose.[A31738]
Distribution
The reported volume of distribution depends on the pharmacokinetic model and it can be of 265L based on a one-compartment model to 3207L in a two-compartment model.[A31747]
Metabolism
The metabolism of pholcodine seems to be very slow[A31747] and due to the elimination profile, it is thought that most of the administered dose undergoes metabolism. There is some evidence in preclinical trials that indicate that morphine is a minor metabolite of pholcodine and that it accounts for 1% of the administered dose.[A31738]
Elimination

Clearance

After oral administration of 60 mg of pholcodine, the clearance rate was reported to be 126 ml/min.[A31738]

Toxicity

Generally, pholcodine is significantly less toxic than codeine. Nonetheless, it is important to consider the significant depressive respiratory effect.[L1202]

Active Ingredient/Synonyms

Pholcodine | Pholcodine |


Source of information: Drugbank (External Link). Last updated on: 3rd July 18. *Trade Name used in the content below may not be the same as the HSA-registered product.

References

  1. Health Science Authority of Singapore - Reclassified POM
  2. Drugbank