Health officials have issued a recall for a batch of the commonly prescribed antidepressant Sertraline after a patient discovered the wrong medication inside their sealed pack. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced that UK-based pharmaceutical company Amarox has initiated a precautionary recall of a specific batch of Sertraline 100mg film-coated tablets.
What Happened?
A patient taking Sertraline 100mg film-coated tablets found a strip of another antidepressant, Citalopram 40mg film-coated tablets, inside the sealed carton. Both medications are manufactured by the same company at the same facility. According to the MHRA, the error likely occurred during the secondary packaging process when blister strips were placed into cartons.
Patient Advice
Patients who believe they have taken Citalopram 40mg tablets by mistake or are experiencing side effects should seek medical advice immediately. The MHRA advises pharmacists to stop supplying the affected batch and contact any patients who may have received Sertraline 100mg tablets from batch number V2500425.
Dr. Alison Cave, the MHRA's Chief Safety Officer, stated: "If you have been prescribed Sertraline 100mg tablets and have received batch number V2500425, please check the carton contains the right medication. The batch number and expiry date are printed on the side of the outer packaging. If the blister strips inside are labelled Citalopram 40mg, contact your pharmacy as soon as possible. If they are labelled Sertraline 100mg, no further action is needed."
Potential Side Effects
Patients who have accidentally taken Citalopram instead of, or in addition to, Sertraline may experience heightened serotonergic side effects, including nausea, headache, sleep changes, and mild anxiety.
Background on Sertraline
In 2019, over 16.7 million prescriptions of Sertraline were issued by GPs in England. Sertraline is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressant used to treat depression, OCD, panic disorder, PTSD, and social anxiety disorder. It works by increasing serotonin levels, which can improve mood and reduce anxiety. The NHS advises taking Sertraline once daily at the same time; if a dose is missed, skip it and take the next dose as usual—do not double up.
About Citalopram
Citalopram is also an SSRI antidepressant commonly used for depression and panic attacks. It typically takes four to six weeks to work fully, though some improvement may be felt after one to two weeks.
Important Warning
Patients taking either Sertraline or Citalopram should never stop suddenly. Instead, they should consult their doctor to gradually reduce the dose and avoid withdrawal symptoms.
