People who have purchased Duro-tuss cough medicines are advised to check the package before use.

The Department of Health has been told by the importer, 3M Hong Kong, that 80 bottles of "Duro-tuss Linctus Forte" have been wrongly packaged in "Duro-tuss Linctus Regular" boxes.

The "Forte" medicine has three times the amount of pholcodine as the "Regular" one, and can cause drowsiness, confusion and respiratory depression.

The bottles in question have been supplied to authorised sellers of poisons, two private hospitals and a general practitioner. The importer has recalled 29 bottles so far.

Label check

"Duro-tuss Cough Linctus Regular" in labelled in English and Chinese, but "Duro-tuss Cough Linctus Forte" is in English only.

The box of the product in question is batch number M210C, while the bottle is printed with batch number M300C. Neither product requires a doctor's prescription but are sold in dispensaries under a pharmacist's supervision.

Those who have purchased the wrongly packaged medicines should immediately stop taking it and call 3M's hotline 2805 8037 to arrange for its return, or call the department's hotline 2319 2839.