FDA Warns That OTC And Prescription Pills May Have Been Mixed
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) --The Food and Drug Administration has released a warning about a potential mix-up involving powerful prescription pills.
Novartis is pulling bottles of several products, including Excedrin, off of store shelves. It's part of a voluntary recall that also includes Bufferin, Gas-X and the caffeine caplets, "No-Doz".
The drug maker says that the over the counter pills may contain stray tablets from other Novartis products.
Michael O'Neal, the Manager of Pharmacy Procurement at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told CBS2's Mary Calvi that mixing medications could have serious consequences.
"You need to definitely be concerned if the pills were mixed," he said.
The FDA says that some of the Novartis over the counter pills may also have been packed with powerful prescription painkillers.
The recall is a result of major manufacturing issues at a Novartis facility in Nebraska, which was shut down last month after inspectors found problems.
The company decided to pull the products after receiving complaints of incorrectly labled bottles and broken and chipped pills.
The bottles in question are Excedrin and No-Doz with expiration dates of December 2o, 2014 or earlier and Bufferin and Gas-Ex with expiration dates of December 20, 2013 or earlier.
Experts say to look at your medications closely, and if you have any of the bottles in question do not use them and contact the company for a refund.
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