Can you still buy kaolin and morphine? The End of an Over-the-Counter Era

October 9, 2025 •

4 min read

For decades, kaolin and morphine mixture was a common over-the-counter remedy for diarrhea in many places, including the UK. However, due to significant safety concerns related to its opioid content and other ingredients, you can no longer buy kaolin and morphine for self-medication, as it has been largely discontinued.

Quick Summary

Kaolin and morphine, once a readily available diarrhea treatment, has been discontinued due to its opioid content and serious safety risks. The move reflects modern drug safety standards and the availability of safer, more effective alternatives.

Key Points

Discontinuation: Kaolin and morphine is no longer widely available for purchase, particularly over-the-counter, having been discontinued in many countries due to safety concerns.
Opioid Risk: The mixture's morphine content posed a risk of abuse and dependence, despite its low concentration.
Serious Side Effects: Beyond the opioid risk, the mixture was associated with potentially life-threatening side effects, including hypokalaemia (low potassium) and metabolic alkalosis.
Superior Alternatives: Modern, safer alternatives for treating diarrhea, such as loperamide (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol), are now widely available.
Regulatory Action: The drug's removal from the market was a result of increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies and healthcare professionals who recognized its poor risk-benefit profile.
Patient Safety: The discontinuation reflects an evolution in pharmacological science towards prioritizing patient safety and replacing outdated formulations with modern, evidence-based treatments.

The Historical Popularity of Kaolin and Morphine

For many years, kaolin and morphine mixture, often referred to as 'Kaolin & Morph', was a household name for treating gastrointestinal distress, particularly diarrhea. The combination of its active ingredients made it a go-to remedy. Kaolin, a clay-based substance, was believed to work by binding to toxins and bacteria in the gut, thereby firming up loose stools. The morphine, a potent opioid, worked to slow down the movement of the gut, providing relief from cramping and frequent bowel movements. At the time, its over-the-counter (OTC) availability was a testament to its perceived safety and efficacy, though it is now understood that its efficacy was questionable and its safety profile was poor.

The Rising Tide of Safety Concerns

In the early 2010s, and even earlier, concerns about the safety and potential for abuse of kaolin and morphine began to mount in the medical community. While the amount of morphine in each dose was low, the potential for dependence and abuse was a significant issue. Case reports documented instances of individuals developing a dependency on the mixture, leading to severe health complications.

Beyond the Morphine: Other Hidden Hazards

Beyond the well-known risks associated with opioids, other components of the mixture posed serious threats. High doses could lead to several life-threatening conditions:

Severe Hypokalaemia: The inclusion of sodium bicarbonate and liquorice in the formulation could cause a dangerous drop in potassium levels.
Metabolic Alkalosis: The high bicarbonate content could disrupt the body's acid-base balance.
Respiratory Depression: Overuse of the morphine component could suppress breathing, a particularly dangerous risk for individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
Drug Interactions: The kaolin itself, with its binding properties, could reduce the absorption of other medications taken concurrently, decreasing their effectiveness.

These combined risks led to calls from healthcare professionals for the product to be reclassified as a prescription-only medicine or withdrawn entirely.

Discontinuation and the Current Landscape

Reflecting the culmination of safety concerns, manufacturers and regulatory bodies in many countries took action. The product was eventually discontinued, with the NHSBSA, for example, classifying it as 'Discontinued'. Major pharmacies and medical suppliers no longer carry it. Therefore, the answer to the question "Can you still buy kaolin and morphine?" is definitively no in most regions, particularly over-the-counter.

The Shift to Safer Alternatives

Modern medicine offers numerous safer and more effective treatments for diarrhea. The development of newer anti-diarrheals has eliminated the need for risky, old-fashioned formulations. These new medications focus on different mechanisms of action to treat symptoms without the inherent dangers of opioid dependence or serious metabolic disturbances.


Feature	Kaolin and Morphine	Modern Diarrhea Treatments (e.g., Loperamide)
Active Mechanism	Opioid (morphine) slows gut motility; adsorbent (kaolin) binds toxins.	Loperamide directly slows gut motility; others like bismuth subsalicylate coat the stomach lining.
Availability	Discontinued or Prescription-Only.	Widely available over-the-counter.
Abuse Potential	High, due to morphine content.	Negligible for non-opioid options.
Safety Concerns	Hypokalaemia, metabolic alkalosis, respiratory depression, dependency.	Generally safer, with well-documented, less severe side effects.
Regulatory Status	Controlled substance or completely withdrawn.	Non-controlled substances, widely approved for OTC sale.

Why Modern Drug Regulation is Important

The story of kaolin and morphine highlights the evolution of drug safety standards and pharmacovigilance. It underscores how regulatory bodies respond to new evidence of risk, even for products with a long history of use. Unlike the past, where such drugs were freely available, today's system prioritizes patient safety above all else. This has led to the development of better, more targeted medications and the removal of products with unacceptable risk-benefit profiles. The case of kaolin and morphine is a reminder that what was once considered a safe, standard remedy can, over time, be replaced by superior and safer alternatives.

Where to Find Help for Diarrhea

For those experiencing diarrhea, especially if severe or persistent, consulting a pharmacist or doctor is crucial. They can recommend appropriate, modern treatments and ensure safe use. Options range from simple rehydration solutions to medications like loperamide (Imodium), atropine/diphenoxylate (Lomotil), or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol). These alternatives do not carry the same risks of dependence and other serious side effects associated with the outdated kaolin and morphine formulation.

Conclusion: A Lesson in Pharmacological Progress

The short answer to "Can you still buy kaolin and morphine?" is no. Its removal from the market represents a significant step forward in ensuring public health and safety. While once a popular remedy, the serious health risks associated with its ingredients, particularly the potential for abuse from the opioid component and the metabolic issues from other additives, led to its demise. Today, individuals can rely on a variety of safer, more effective, and readily available modern alternatives for treating diarrhea. This evolution in drug safety is a critical part of pharmacological progress, protecting consumers from potentially harmful medications while providing better treatment options.

The Role of Pharmacists and Healthcare Professionals

This shift also emphasizes the vital role of healthcare professionals in patient education. Pharmacists, in particular, serve as a first line of defense, steering consumers away from outdated or potentially dangerous remedies and toward evidence-based, safe, and effective treatments. It is a constant reminder of the importance of consulting medical professionals for advice on any health issue, especially when considering over-the-counter medications that may have hidden risks. The abandonment of kaolin and morphine is a clear victory for patient safety and modern pharmacological science.

Visit drugs.com for detailed information on modern alternatives like loperamide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Kaolin and morphine was discontinued due to significant safety concerns. These included the risk of dependence from its opioid content (morphine) and life-threatening side effects from other ingredients, such as hypokalaemia and metabolic alkalosis caused by high levels of sodium bicarbonate and liquorice.

Beyond dependence, documented side effects from the mixture included hypokalaemia, metabolic alkalosis, hypertension, and respiratory depression, particularly with misuse or overuse. Its opioid nature could also cause constipation and drowsiness.

Modern medicine offers much safer and more effective alternatives. Common over-the-counter options include loperamide (Imodium), atropine/diphenoxylate (Lomotil), and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol). Consult a pharmacist or doctor for the best option for your specific needs.

Yes, for many decades, kaolin and morphine mixture was available over-the-counter (OTC) in countries like the UK. However, its OTC status was revoked due to the potential for abuse and other serious side effects.

Kaolin is a clay-like mineral that can still be found in some medications, particularly those used for treating diarrhea, but typically without the morphine component. For example, it is sometimes combined with pectin in some remedies.

No, morphine is a highly controlled substance due to its potent and addictive nature. It has not been available without a prescription for over a century in many countries and is only used under strict medical supervision for severe pain.

Yes, even the small amount of morphine in the mixture contributed to its abuse potential. This was a key factor in its reclassification and eventual discontinuation, as some users developed a dependency, leading to dangerous overdose scenarios.