Case file
Kayson Pharma (Jaipur, Rajasthan)
Last checked 19 September 2026. Some details are still being verified.
Kayson Pharma, a Jaipur manufacturer supplying Rajasthan's free-medicine scheme, was at the centre of the second strand of the October 2025 cough-syrup crisis. After children in Rajasthan died following doses of a Kayson dextromethorphan syrup, the state government on 4 October 2025 halted distribution of all 19 medicines supplied by the company and suspended the state drug controller. Testing found the syrup free of diethylene glycol, and the deaths were attributed to dextromethorphan dosing in very young children rather than contamination. The episode prompted the DGHS advisory against cough syrups for children under two and a PIB fact check denying a dextromethorphan ban.
Status as of 19 September 2026
AIR / PIB Fact Check: Govt dismisses rumours of ban on dextromethorphan cough syrups
Scope. A record here does not by itself mean a product or company is unsafe or banned today. Regulatory actions can apply to one batch, one formulation, one period or one state. Always check the linked government document for the current position, and tell us if something is out of date. How we label records.
Affected products and batches
| Product | Batch | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dextromethorphan cough syrup | , being verified | DEG-negative; linked to deaths attributed to dosing |
| 18 other Kayson products | all | Distribution halted pending review |
Current status
Distribution of Kayson products through the state scheme halted from 4 Oct 2025; the syrup tested negative for diethylene glycol. The final outcome of the state investigation is not confirmed in our sources as of 19 Sep 2026.
What to do if you have this product
Step 1
Do not give dextromethorphan syrups to children under two, and under five only on a doctor's advice.
Step 2
Rajasthan patients holding Kayson-labelled medicines from government dispensaries should ask the dispensary whether the product is cleared.
Step 3
This is not evidence that dextromethorphan is banned or contaminated; the issue was dosing in infants.
Official sources and primary records
- AIR: Rajasthan govt halts distribution of all 19 medicines supplied by Kayson PharmaNewsAll India Radio · 4 October 2025
- AIR / PIB Fact Check: Govt dismisses rumours of ban on dextromethorphan cough syrupsPIBAll India Radio · 8 October 2025
- AIR: Health ministry advises cough syrups should not be prescribed or dispensed to children below two yearsNewsAll India Radio · 4 October 2025
- Wikipedia: 2025 India cough syrup crisisNewsWikipedia