In consultation with the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Boehringer Ingelheim is initiating a voluntary withdrawal of its product, Silomat® syrup in Singapore.

Silomat® syrup is available locally as a pharmacy medicine. It contains the active ingredient, clobutinol, a cough suppressant used for the symptomatic relief of non-productive coughs.

Preliminary results from a recent clinical study conducted by Boehringer Ingelheim suggest that clobutinol may have the potential to cause abnormal heart rhythm in certain individuals. . However, the potential risk has been assessed to be small and is present only at the time of consumption.

Since the medicine was first marketed in 1969, to date, there have been 2 worldwide reports of irregular heart rhythms associated with the product.  Locally, the HSA has not received any such reports. Due to the availability of alternative medicines, Boehringer Ingelheim has decided to withdraw the product globally as a precautionary measure.

Patients who are taking this medicine should discontinue its use immediately and contact their doctors or pharmacists for alternative options to clobutinol-containing products, if required.

Healthcare professionals are advised to stop prescribing or dispensing the product to their patients.

For further clarifications, members of the public may contact the Boehringer Ingelheim hotline at Tel: 63918140.