Health officials have issued an urgent recall of a batch of the antidepressant Sertraline after a patient discovered Citalopram tablets inside a sealed pack. The error, which occurred during the secondary packaging process at UK-based pharmaceutical company Amarox, has prompted a precautionary recall of Sertraline 100mg tablets from batch number V2500425.
What Happened?
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirmed that the mix-up happened when blister strips containing Citalopram were incorrectly placed into cartons labeled for Sertraline. A patient reported finding the wrong medication, triggering an immediate investigation.
Patient Advice
Patients who have been prescribed Sertraline 100mg from the affected batch are advised to carefully check their medication. If Citalopram tablets are found instead of Sertraline, they should contact their pharmacy for a replacement. Anyone who may have mistakenly taken Citalopram is urged to seek medical advice promptly due to potential side effects, including nausea, headache, and anxiety.
The recall affects only batch V2500425 of Sertraline 100mg tablets. Other strengths or batches are not impacted. Patients with concerns are encouraged to consult their healthcare provider or pharmacist.
This incident underscores the importance of rigorous quality control in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The MHRA is working with Amarox to investigate the root cause and prevent future occurrences.
