Drugs recalled

Local stores in Cayman have pulled over-the-counter drugs manufactured by Novartis Consumer Health from their shelves following a recall of a number of the company’s products.

Excedrin, NoDoz, Bufferin and Gas-X Prevention drugs are being recalled.

The pharmaceutical company announced a voluntary recall of all lots of select bottle packaging configurations of Excedrin and NoDoz products with expiry dates of 20 December, 2014 or earlier, as well as Bufferin and Gas-X Prevention products with expiry dates of 20 December, 2013 or earlier.

The company said it was taking this action as a precautionary measure because the products may contain stray tablets, capsules, or caplets from other Novartis products, or contain broken or chipped tablets.

It suspended operations and shipments at its Lincoln, Nebraska facility.

The US Food and Drug Administration advises consumers that all pills in the bottle should look the same.

“If patients find a pill that is different in shape, size, colour, or markings, they should bring their medicine bottle to their pharmacist and not take any of those pills,” a statement from the FDA read.

According to a statement from Novartis released 8 January, mixing different products in the same bottle could result in consumers taking the incorrect product and receiving a higher or lower strength than intended or receiving an unintended ingredient.

“This could potentially result in overdose, interaction with other medications a consumer may be taking, or an allergic reaction if the consumer is allergic to the unintended ingredient. NCH is not aware of adverse events reported with the issues leading to the recall,” the statement read.

Foster’s Food Fair IGA encouraged its customers who purchased the affected products to return them to one of their stores for a full refund.

Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA’s MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Programme at www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm.