Company Bankruptcy & Total Recall
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Permanent Discontinuation & Shutdown: In February 2023, Akorn Pharmaceuticals filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, shut down all US operations, and terminated its workforce.
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Voluntary Nationwide Recall: In April 2023, Akorn issued a total recall of all within-expiry products—including its promethazine formulations—because the company ceased its quality assurance programs and could no longer guarantee drug purity or safety.
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No Legitimate Supply: Official Akorn-branded prescription cough syrup is no longer manufactured or legally distributed in pharmacies.
Critical Danger: Illicit Street Counterfeits
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Illicit manufacturers produce fake Akorn bottles and labels filled with unknown, unregulated liquids.
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These street mixtures routinely contain lethal doses of synthetic opioids (such as illicit fentanyl or nitazenes), unregulated sedatives (like illicit benzodiazepines), or toxic chemicals.
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Consuming counterfeit street syrup carries an extreme risk of immediate, fatal overdose.
Medical Uses & Active Ingredients
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Promethazine: A first-generation antihistamine that dries up respiratory secretions and causes heavy sedation.
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Codeine: A Schedule V controlled substance (opioid) that acts on the brain’s central nervous system to suppress severe coughing.
Severe Health Risks & Black Box Warnings
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Fatal Respiratory Depression: Both promethazine and codeine depress the central nervous system. Combined—or taken alongside alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other narcotics—they can slow breathing to the point of brain damage, coma, or death.
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Pediatric Black Box Warning: Codeine is strictly contraindicated in children under 12 years of age (and adolescents under 18 following certain surgeries like tonsillectomy) due to the risk of sudden, fatal respiratory arrest.
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Addiction & Physical Dependency: Codeine is an addictive opioid. Regular use leads to rapid physical tolerance, addiction, and painful withdrawal symptoms upon stopping.




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