FDA Warns That OTC And Prescription Pills May Have Been Mixed

January 9, 2012 9:18 PM

No-Doz may be among the over the counter products that was mixed with prescription medicine. (credit:CBS2)

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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.

You may post your thoughts in our comments section below…

FDA Warns That OTC And Prescription Pills May Have Been Mixed

Vernon Hell

Wow! A real Excedrin headache. What’s your expiration date?

A few years ago I had to return 5 bags of store brand cereal made by Malt-o-Meal after a whole year’s production was recalled for salmonella, discovered in “routine testing.” Routine testing? A whole year’s production? Needless to say, I will never buy any of their cereals again.

That is the real answer — for consumers to administer the corporate death penalty. Let them burn in Chapter 7 Hell!
Bob

It is unbelievable that with what should be modern manufacturing methods and quality control in the pharmaceutical industry that this would happen. Getting the right stuff in the bottle is so basic that there had to have been a total breakdown of the quality control system.
Barbara

Wow they are just telling people this I have been taking them and am sure I have at least 2 of the recalled bottles now. Not to mention when I called they said they are going to refund the retail price but we all know the store marked it up so they are cheating me out of my money and making me sick at the same time and then have the nerve to ask me if I want to know when the product will be back on the market I JUST DONT THINK SO.