The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has issued an urgent warning to thousands of patients taking a common high blood pressure drug
Patients are being urged to check for the batch number MD4L07 with an expiry date of January 2028 as a ‘precautionary measure’ (Image: PA)
Patients who are on a common high blood pressure medication are being urged to double-check their prescriptions after the manufacturer reported a dosage error on some packs.
A batch of Lercanidipine, manufactured by Recordati Pharmaceuticals, is labelled as containing 10mg tablets when in fact it contains 20mg.
The correct dosage is indicated on the top of the box and on the blister strips, according to a warning issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
As a “precautionary measure”, patients are being advised to look for the batch number MD4L07 with an expiry date of January 2028.
The MHRA has revealed that over 7,700 packs affected by the recall have been distributed.
Those who have already been prescribed medication from this batch should contact their GP or pharmacist immediately, or dial NHS 111 if they cannot be reached, reports the Mirror.
If reaching a healthcare professional is not possible, the MHRA advises patients to verify the strength of the tablet using the information on the foil of the blister strip.
For those who have been prescribed 10mg, taking half a 20mg tablet is suggested as a temporary solution until they can consult their GP or pharmacist. Lercanidipine is a calcium channel blocker, which works by preventing calcium from entering the heart and blood vessel muscles, thereby helping to relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure.
Taking too much of some medications can lead to an increased or irregular heartbeat, as well as dizziness and a tendency to make the person extremely sleepy.
Dr Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer at the MHRA, stressed: “Patient safety is our top priority. We ask patients to check their medicine packaging and follow our advice.”
Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, have been instructed to stop issuing medicines from the affected batch and return them to the distributor.
Dr Cave also advised: “Please report any suspected adverse reactions via the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme.”
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High blood pressure, also referred to as hypertension, is a prevalent condition that is especially common in older people.
Even though it’s common, high blood pressure is a major health concern that can result in severe complications like strokes and heart attacks.
Worryingly, it frequently goes undiagnosed due to its silent nature, with unnoticeable symptoms.
According to the NHS the symptoms of high blood pressure are:
- headaches
- blurred vision
- chest pain
Although the NHS expresses that the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to get your blood pressure checked at the GP.
If high blood pressure is not treated then it puts you at the risk of serious conditions such as:
- heart disease
- heart attacks
- strokes
- heart failure
- kidney disease
- vascular dementia
You can lower your blood pressure by having doing some healthy lifestyle changes, such as having a healthy, balanced diet, exercising regularly – by going on daily walks, or swimming – and to lose weight if you’re overweight.