BRITS with high blood pressure have been urged to check their medicine boxes due to an overdose risk.
Almost 23 million people in the UK are thought to have blood pressure, otherwise known as hypertension.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have warned of a labelling blunder which means some packs of the medicine Lercanidipine contain twice the intended dose.
A batch of 20mg tablets was wrongly labelled as 10mg on some sides of the box, which could lead to people taking too much.
However, the correct dose is listed at the top of the box and on the foil blister packaging inside.
Patients should make sure the dose on the box matches the one on the foil pack and “should contact their pharmacist or GP immediately” if there’s a mismatch, the health watchdog said.
They recommended that those who have been prescribed 10mg and can’t reach a doctor or pharmacist before their next dose, check the foil strip.
If it shows 20mg and you know your prescribed dose is 10mg, take half a tablet until you receive proper advice, said the alert published today.
Lercanidipine is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure.
It helps relax blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump blood.
It’s usually prescribed when other blood pressure medications don’t work or aren’t suitable.
While exact numbers aren’t available, Lercanidipine makes up around 2.7 per cent of hypertension prescriptions in the UK.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”High blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes are all dubbed ‘silent killers’ – should we really be that worried?” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6360301076112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]With about 22.7 million people affected by high blood pressure, this suggests roughly 613,000 people might be using Lercanidipine.
The MHRA has urged patients to check if their medication from Recordati Pharmaceuticals Limited is batch MD4L07, expiring January 2028.
This code is on the blister pack foil. Over 7,700 affected packs have been distributed.
Symptoms of a Lercanidipine overdose include low blood pressure, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, increased heart rate and headaches.
It can also lead to swelling in the legs or ankles, nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness or fatigue.
In severe cases, dangerously low blood pressure may occur, leading to shock, organ damage, and potentially death.
Immediate medical attention is crucial to prevent serious complications.
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer said: “Patient safety is our top priority. We ask patients to check their medicine packaging and follow our advice.
“Healthcare professionals such as pharmacists are also being asked to stop supplying medicine from the affected batch and to return it to the supplier.”