IMB INITIATES PRECAUTIONARY RECALL OF NUROFEN PLUS TABLETS

27 August 2011

The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) has been closely monitoring the discovery, on the UK market, of packs of Nurofen Plus Tablets containing rogue blister strips of either Seroquel XL 50mg Tablets or Neurontin 100mg Capsules. Whilst the UK implicated pack size of Nurofen Plus of 32 tablets is not available for sale on the Irish market and there is no evidence at this time that packs of Nurofen Plus in Ireland are affected, the IMB, as a precautionary measure, has initiated a recall of all packs from Irish wholesalers for checking. This has been done in consultation with Reckitt Benckiser, the owner of Nurofen Plus.

The recall relates to packs of Nurofen Plus at wholesale level only and pharmacists are being asked to check all packs of Nurofen Plus on their premises prior to any sale. All unaffected packs may be sold.

The IMB is in close liaison with the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and with Reckitt Benckiser in relation to this matter. To date, five packs of 32 tablet size Nurofen Plus containing rogue blisters have been identified in the UK and Northern Ireland. Whilst there have been no serious health consequences to any consumer in the UK, sabotage of the product is suspected and Reckitt Benckiser UK is working with the UK police on a formal investigation into the issue.

The IMB states that the recall in Ireland is purely precautionary at this point. It advises patients who may have recently purchased this product to check their packs of Nurofen Plus to make sure that they contain Nurofen Plus blister strips and a Nurofen Plus Patient Information Leaflet. Any patients who have any concerns or in the unlikely event that they find a rogue blister strip or leaflet, should contact their pharmacist.

Distribution of Nurofen Plus has been halted in the UK and in Ireland at this time.

Pharmacists have been requested to check all packs of Nurofen Plus that are available in pharmacies for the presence of rogue blister strips or patient information leaflets and to immediately report any found to the IMB.

Pictures of the Nurofen Plus carton and blister are included for ease of reference.

The IMB is continuing to investigate and monitor the situation and will communicate further in the event of new developments.

Please note that other Nurofen products are not affected by this issue. 

Download PDF Version

ENDS

FOR INFORMATION:
Siobhan Molloy/Orla Molloy Tel: (01) 676 01 68
Weber Shandwick PR or 086 817 50 66/087 7705108