The prescription cough syrup Buy Actavis Promethazine was a brand-name medication that has been discontinued due to its high potential for recreational abuse. It is no longer legally manufactured or available in the legitimate U.S. pharmaceutical market, although counterfeit versions are prevalent in illicit markets.
About the Medication Buy Actavis Promethazine
The syrup contained two active ingredients:
- Promethazine: An antihistamine that helps with allergy symptoms like a runny nose and sneezing. It can also act as a sedative and anti-nausea agent.
- Codeine: An opioid (narcotic analgesic) that acts on the central nervous system to suppress the cough reflex and relieve pain.
Uses of Buy Actavis Promethazine
When available, the prescription-only syrup was used to relieve cough, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and other upper respiratory symptoms caused by allergies or the common cold in adults. It was a Schedule V controlled substance.
Discontinuation and Abuse
Actavis decided to pull its popular promethazine with codeine syrup off the market around 2014 because of its widespread recreational use. The product, often referred to as “lean,” “purple drank,” or “sizzurp” when mixed with soda and candy, became a cultural phenomenon and a significant drug abuse issue.
Current Status
- Original Product: The original Actavis product is no longer manufactured.
- Counterfeit Products: Mexican cartels and illicit suppliers now produce counterfeit versions of “Actavis” syrup. These products are unregulated and may contain varying or dangerous ingredients, sometimes without codeine or with other potent substances like fentanyl.
- Legitimate Alternatives: Other generic versions of promethazine with codeine oral solutions (6.25 mg/10 mg per 5 mL) may be available from other manufacturers, but they require a doctor’s prescription and are strictly controlled due to the risk of abuse. Promethazine without codeine is widely available as a prescription antihistamine and anti-nausea medication