Fake cough syrup could cause overdose, death: Montreal Public Health – CTV
February 10, 2026
Montreal Public Health is warning of a mysterious and dangerous purple syrup being sold in a bottle parading as an approved pharmaceutical medication.
The product, known as “Lean” or “Sizzurp,” is labelled as a “promethazine with codeine oral solution” — cough syrup.
“Over time, different mixtures have been identified in containers that appear identical,” said Public Health.
Officials say that some confiscated products have been shown to contain protonitazene, a toxic opioid, and bromazolam, a benzodiazepine (central nervous system depressant) that is not marketed in Canada.
“Anyone who consumes this product could be exposed to an unpredictable and toxic mixture,” the warning states, adding that consuming the liquid could result in overdose or death.
The Montreal alert comes after Laval Public Health issued a notice in November 2023 about a suspected overdose death linked to a similar product.
