Hyderabad: The Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) on Saturday issued an urgent advisory asking the public to immediately stop using Almont-Kid Syrup, a medicine commonly prescribed for allergies, hay fever and asthma in children, after it was allegedly found to be adulterated with Ethylene Glycol (EG), a highly toxic substance.

In a notification, the DCA said it had received an alert from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), East Zone, Kolkata, following a laboratory report that declared the syrup — containing Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride and Montelukast Sodium — as adulterated.

“In light of the above, the public is hereby strongly advised to immediately stop the use of the above syrup, if in possession, and report the same to the nearest Drugs Control Authority without delay,” the DCA said.

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The administration has directed all Drugs Inspectors and Assistant Directors across Telangana to alert retailers, wholesalers, distributors and hospitals to immediately freeze any available stocks of the affected batch and ensure that it is neither sold nor dispensed under any circumstances.

Members of the public who possess the syrup have also been asked to report it directly to the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana, through its toll-free number.

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The DCA said it has initiated enforcement measures and is closely monitoring the situation to prevent any further risk to public health. It urged people to exercise extreme caution and refrain from using the product to avoid potential health hazards linked to Ethylene Glycol toxicity.

According to the advisory, the affected medicine is Almont-Kid Syrup, Batch No. AL-24002, manufactured by Tridus Remedies, Bihar.