The health ministry of India banned Phensedyl and Corex cough syrups. The ministry has already approved the ban order with immediate effect from Friday.

The government has decided to prohibit manufacturing and sale of these medicines because they were found to be "irrational" without any therapeutic efficacy and use.

Also, in some cases, there were concerns about misuse of such medicines considered unsafe for mass consumption.

The Times of India reported yesterday that the health ministry of India has banned around 350 fixed dose combination (FDC) drugs that were widely available in the market till now.

These medicines include FDCs based on codeine, used in popular cough syrups like Phensedyl and Corex.

A fixed dose combination or FDC is one that contains two or more drugs combined in a fixed ratio of doses and available in a single dosage form.

Health experts say many unapproved formulations and FDCs are sold in India. Most of these medicines are in the analgesics, anti-depressant and psychotic condition segment.

Industry estimates suggest the move is likely to impact pharmaceutical sales to the tune of around Rs 1,500 crore.

A study published in 2015 in journal PLOS Medicine pointed that over 12 percent of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory FDCs contain drugs that have either been withdrawn from the market or have had their use restricted.