Pharmaceutical company recalls high blood pressure drugs over dangerous labelling mix-up

(Vancouver Sun) — A pharmaceutical company has launched a voluntary recall of a drug which may have been mislabelled — with possible “life-threatening” consequences for patients with high blood pressure, says Health Canada.

Following a complaint by a pharmacist regarding a prescription product containing the wrong medication, Mylan Pharmaceuticals is recalling one lot of Mylan-Minocycline 50 mg capsules and Mylan-Amlodipine 5 mg tablets, both sold in bottles of 100.

The risk, says Health Canada, is that patients sensitive to tetracyclines or minocycline may be taking minocycline in error, due to mislabelled bottles.

“In addition, a patient who requires MYLAN-AMLODIPINE for their high blood pressure or angina will not get the medication needed to help them treat these conditions,” said a Health Canada statement.

Mylan-Amlodipine is used to treat high blood pressure and chest pains. Mylan-Minocycline is used to treat certain types of skin infections, urinary tract infections, gallbladder infections, and respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and sinusitis.

According to Mylan Pharmaceuticals, the company was contacted in mid-March by a pharmacist who reported that she had ordered four 100-count bottles of Mylan-Minocycline and received one bottle labelled as Mylan-Amlodipine which actually contained Mylan-Minocycline tablets.