A batch of Sertraline 100mg tablets has been recalled
Health authorities have withdrawn a batch of a widely prescribed antidepressant following the discovery of incorrect medication inside a patient’s package.
A patient receiving Sertraline 100mg film-coated tablets discovered a strip of a different antidepressant – Citalopram 40mg film-coated tablets – within the sealed box. As a result, UK-based pharmaceutical firm Amarox has initiated a “precautionary recall” of a specific batch of Sertraline, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced.
Both medicines are manufactured by the same producer at the same facility. The MHRA stated that the production mistake “appears to have occurred during secondary packaging of the blister strips into the cartons”.
It advised that patients who suspect they have already consumed any Citalopram 40mg tablets in error or are experiencing adverse reactions should seek medical guidance immediately. The MHRA stated that pharmacists must cease supplying the batch and reach out to any patients who may have been given the affected product – Sertraline 100mg tablets batch number V2500425.
Dr Alison Cave, the MHRA’s chief safety officer, commented: “If you have been prescribed Sertraline 100mg tablets and have received batch number V2500425, please check the carton contains the right medication. You can find the batch number and expiry date printed on the side of the outer packaging.”
She added: “If the blister strips inside the carton are labelled Citalopram 40mg, please contact your pharmacy as soon as possible. If they are labelled Sertraline 100mg, no further action is needed. Patients who have accidentally taken Citalopram instead of – or as well as – Sertraline, may experience some heightened serotonergic side effects. These can include nausea, headache, sleep changes and mild anxiety.”
Research from 2019 revealed that GPs across England issued over 16.7 million Sertraline prescriptions. The medication is an antidepressant used to address depression alongside various mental health conditions, including OCD, panic disorder, PTSD and social anxiety disorder, explains the Mirror.
It belongs to a class of antidepressants called SSRIs – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The NHS explains it functions by boosting serotonin levels, which can assist people in feeling more settled and content once levels stabilise.
Sertraline tablets should be consumed once daily at a consistent time, though the NHS cautions that missing a dose means you should simply omit it and resume with your regular dose the following day. The NHS emphasises you must not double up on doses to compensate for one you’ve missed.
Citalopram represents another SSRI antidepressant, frequently prescribed for low mood and depression, and occasionally for panic attacks. While it typically requires four to six weeks for Citalopram to reach full effectiveness, patients often notice improvements within one to two weeks. Individuals taking either Sertraline or Citalopram must never cease the medication abruptly. Rather, they ought to consult their GP who will assist in gradually decreasing the dosage over time to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
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