Cold Syrup Recalled; May Be Scabies Cure

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration is asking consumers to check any bottles of a prescription allergy and cold medicine syrup called Promethazine VC Plain to make sure it does not contain a thick white lotion instead of the normal orange-yellow syrup.

The agency said Friday that the white lotion may be lindane, a medicine for parasitic mites known as scabies. Lindane could cause severe convulsions if taken by children, the FDA said.

The FDA said pint bottles of My-K and Rugby brands of Promethazine VC Plain syrup made by My-K Laboratories, lot 15880, were being recalled from pharmacies.