Health authorities have initiated a recall of a batch of a popular antidepressant following a patient’s discovery of incorrect medication in their package. The patient, who was prescribed Sertraline 100mg film-coated tablets, found a strip of Citalopram 40mg film-coated tablets inside the sealed carton. Consequently, the UK-based pharmaceutical company Amarox has issued a precautionary recall for the affected batch of Sertraline, as confirmed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Both medications are manufactured by the same company at the same facility. The MHRA reported that the manufacturing error likely occurred during the secondary packaging process of placing blister strips into the cartons. Patients who suspect they have mistakenly taken Citalopram 40mg tablets or are experiencing adverse effects are advised to seek immediate medical attention. Pharmacists have been instructed to halt distribution of the impacted batch and reach out to patients who may have received the faulty product – Sertraline 100mg tablets batch number V2500425.
Dr. Alison Cave, the MHRA’s chief safety officer, emphasized the importance of verifying the medication in the carton for patients prescribed Sertraline 100mg tablets with batch number V2500425. She advised checking the batch number and expiry date on the outer packaging and contacting the pharmacy promptly if Citalopram 40mg blister strips are found inside the carton. Patients who mistakenly took Citalopram instead of, or in addition to, Sertraline may experience heightened serotonergic side effects such as nausea, headaches, sleep disturbances, and mild anxiety.
In 2019, a study revealed that over 16.7 million prescriptions of Sertraline were dispensed by GPs in England. Sertraline, an antidepressant used to treat various mental health conditions including depression, OCD, panic disorder, PTSD, and social anxiety disorder, belongs to a class of drugs known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). The drug functions by elevating serotonin levels to promote feelings of calmness and happiness.
Patients taking Sertraline tablets are advised to adhere to a once-daily dosing schedule at the same time each day. If a dose is missed, it is recommended to skip it and resume the normal dosing regimen the following day, avoiding doubling up on doses. Citalopram, another SSRI antidepressant commonly prescribed for low mood, depression, and panic attacks, typically requires four to six weeks to achieve full therapeutic effect, with some improvement noticed within one to two weeks.
Individuals taking either Sertraline or Citalopram are cautioned against abruptly discontinuing the medication. Instead, they should consult their healthcare provider to gradually taper off the dose to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
