Boots has urgently recalled one of its own-brand paracetamol from shelves over a ‘packaging error’.
The high street pharmacy stuck a ‘do not take’ alert on a batch of its 500mg tablets.
It is feared the drug, which costs under £1, was packaged incorrectly as the inner blister packs appear to say they contain aspirin which is risky for some patients.
Boots, which published the alert today, originally said it was unclear whether the product actually contains aspirin or if there had simply been a labelling error.
A spokesperson has now confirmed that the tablets in the blister packs are Paracetamol 500mg and not aspirin, however the alert remains in force.
The recall only impacts one batch of its 16-pack tablets with the item code 81-99-922 and an expiry date of December 2029.
The retailer added: ‘The supplier is currently conducting a full investigation. Please do not take this product.’
It added customers should return the product to their local store for a full refund, adding that the tablets ‘should not be kept at home, even if the error is known, as this could lead to confusion and an incorrect dose being taken’.
High street pharmacy giant, Boots, stuck a ‘do not take’ alert on a batch of its 500mg tablets
It is feared the drug, which costs under £1, contains incorrect packaging mistakenly labelling it as aspirin
Batch and expiry information can be found on the top of the pack where it is opened.
The item code is located between the barcode and the Boots logo on the side.
‘For more information please contact Boots Customer Care Team on 0800 915 0004,’ Boots said.
While paracetamol and aspirin are both effective painkillers, aspirin is not suitable to take for people with certain health conditions or allergies to the drug.
Aspirin is taken once a day in low doses of 75mg to 100mg by millions as a preventive therapy for circulatory diseases such as heart attacks and strokes as well as cancers.
In higher doses (300mg and above) it can help treat pain, headaches and fever.
But the NHS says you should only take daily low-dose aspirin if your doctor recommends it.
This is because of how aspirin helps to stop blood from clotting, which as a side effect, can make people bleed more easily.
For this reason, medics advise patients taking blood thinning medications, like warfarin, to avoid taking aspirin.
The NHS also warns that taking aspirin regularly can cause ulcers in the gut by damaging the stomach and intestinal lining.
Pregnant women are also advised to be cautious about taking aspirin, with paracetamol being the recommended painkiller for them.
This is because high dose aspirin can affect the baby’s circulation.
Dr Stephanie Millican, MHRA Deputy Director Benefit Risk Evaluation, said:
‘Patient safety is always our priority. It is vitally important that you check the packaging of your Boots Paracetamol 500mg Tablets 16s, and if the batch number is 241005, you should stop using the product and return it to a Boots store for a full refund.
‘If you are unsure which pack you have purchased or have taken Boots Paracetamol 500mg Tablets and experienced any side effects, seek advice from a healthcare professional.
‘Please report any suspected adverse reactions via the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme.
‘If you have any questions or require further advice, please seek advice from your pharmacist or other relevant healthcare professional.’
