This post was originally published on this site
SAGINAW, MI — A Saginaw-area pharmacist has been suspended on accusations he over-dispensed controlled substances, including codeine/promethazine syrup, which is frequently abused and known by the street names of “sizzurp,” “purple drank” and “lean.”
The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs served an administrative complaint and order summarily suspending pharmacist Sureshkumar Dakshinamoorthy’s license to dispense controlled substances, according to a LARA news release. The Michigan Public Health Code provides for summary suspension in response to an imminent danger to the public health or safety.
LARA also served an administrative complaint on Universal Pharmacy, which is owned and operated by Dakshinamoorthy, alleging a failure to maintain effective protocols against diversion of controlled substances and also violating the Public Health Code by dispensing controlled substances without good faith, the release states. An order of summary suspension is a temporary measure to protect the public and not a final determination that a licensee has violated the Public Health Code.
The complaints allege that in 2015 and 2016, Universal dispensed more codeine/promethazine syrup than any other Michigan pharmacy and had unexplained losses of the drug from its inventory.
Codeine/promethazine syrup is used for the short-term relief of upper respiratory illnesses, but is also frequently abused and diverted, according to the release.
The complaints also allege that Universal dispensed dangerous combinations of controlled substances such as alprazolam, carisoprodol, hydrocodone and oxycodone to individuals who visited multiple providers across Michigan, the release states.