“Chelonia Healthcare Limited is recalling specific batches of paracetamol 500mg tablets,” the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) yesterday (June 9) announced.
The regulator said that the recall is a “precautionary measure due to contamination”.
It follows “a small number of complaints of discoloured tablets found within some packs reported by healthcare professionals”, it added.
Read more: Boots recalls paracetamol over ‘incorrect’ aspirin packaging
“The tablets should be white capsule-shaped tablets scored on one side” and are only available with a prescription, the MHRA said.
It added that while the issue “has only been identified” in one batch – number 2312010 – a second batch – number 2312011 – is also being recalled “to mitigate any risk”.
“Quarantine all stock”
“The investigation and analysis remain ongoing,” the MHRA said, adding that healthcare professionals should “stop supplying the…batches immediately”.
“Quarantine all remaining stock and return it to your supplier” using the approved process, it said.
Read more: Supermarket cough medicines recalled over ‘foreign material’
The MHRA added that patients who find tablets from the affected batches “that are discoloured in any way” should contact their pharmacist or the healthcare professional who dispensed their prescription.
“Patients who experience adverse reactions or have any questions about the medication should seek medical attention,” it said.
It comes as Boots recalled 120,000 packs of its own brand paracetamol in March due to “incorrect packaging”.
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The product contained blister packaging for aspirin rather than paracetamol, the multiple said at the time.
And the MHRA told patients with affected batches that they should stop using the product and return it to their local Boots store, adding that a “full refund” would be issued “with or without a receipt”.
Meanwhile in January, a manufacturer recalled several batches of cough medicine, including some it produces for Tesco and Asda, after “foreign material” was found in some bottles.
