A hospital in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore treats patients who drank ing after drinking cough syrup suspected of being toxic.<br/> <br />At least 17 people have so far died after taking the cough medicine which is under investigation.<br/> <br />The medical superintendent of this hospital said the victims - mostly men aged 20-35 - drank the syrup as an intoxicant.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT, MAYO HOSPITAL, LAHORE, DR ZAHID PERVEZ:<br/> <br />"A majority of the victims have a history of being drug addicts. They drank this syrup as a self medication to get high."<br/> <br />But families of the victims said that the syrup was toxic and their relatives died after taking the prescribed dose of the medicine.<br/> <br />Pakistani authorities have banned the sale of the cough syrup and closed three pharmacies as well as arresting the owners of the factory where the mixture was made.
