According to the latest data on the top selling medicines, the highest selling brands are those that are used by drug addicts. Corex, a cough syrup, is the top selling brand followed by Phensedyl, again a cough syrup, at no. 2 (see box). Both these syrups contain codeine, a narcotic. According to market estimates, the combined annual sales of these two brands is over Rs 200 crore.

“Phensedyl and Corex contain codeine, a narcotic with addictive potential. Though they are meant to be sold only on prescription, it is no secret that they are easily available over the counter,” says Dr Anurag Bhargava, member of the All-India Drug Action Network, an umbrella organisation of NGOs working on pharmaceutical policy issues.

The rampant misuse of cough syrups like Corex, Phensedyl and Benadryl had forced the drug authorities to carry out raids on medical shops, which were selling them without prescription a few years ago.

Moreover, the efficacy of these syrups in suppressing cough is also questioned by some.

“The unscientific combination of codeine along with other ingredients in these syrups helps in giving the user a euphoric effect. Everybody knows these syrups are misused. But pharma companies continue to manufacture them with the same combination as they have a huge market,” says Dr Gopal Dabade, an ENT specialist.

In contrast, Glycodin, a cough syrup containing dextromethorphan, a safe constituent approved by the World Health Organisation, does not sell as much, points out Dr Bhargava.

The list of top-selling drugs also reveals the high prescription and sales in India of drugs considered unsafe and which are banned in several countries.

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