Novartis anuncia la retirada de varios productos del mercado estadounidense
Novartis ha anunciado una “retirada voluntaria” de varios
medicamentos sin receta en Estados Unidos debido
a posibles irregularidades y mezcla de productos. La farmacéutica
suiza ha indicado que es una “medida cautelar” que afecta a sus
marcas Bufferin, Excedrin, NoDoz y Gax-X Prevention.
Al mismo
tiempo, Novartis ha suspendido de forma temporal sus
operaciones y envíos en su fábrica de Lincoln, Nebraska,
para “acelerar mejoras”. Según la empresa, esta instalación
produce menos del 2% de las ventas del grupo.
All Bufferin products with expiration dates of Dec. 20, 2013,
or earlier have been recalled. Brand names include Bufferin Extra
Strength Tablets, Bufferin Low Dose Tablets, and Bufferin
Regular Strength Tablets.
All Gas-X Prevention products with expiration dates of
Dec. 20, 2013, or earlier have been recalled.
The following Excedrin products with expiration dates
of Dec. 20, 2014, have been recalled:
- Excedrin Extra Strength Caplets
- Excedrin Extra Strength Express Gel Caplets
- Excedrin Extra Strength Gel Caplets
- Excedrin Extra Strength Tablets
- Excedrin Back & Body Caplets
- Excedrin Sinus Headache Caplets
- Excedrin Migraine Caplets
- Excedrin Migraine Gel Tablets
- Excedrin Migraine Tablets
- Excedrin Menstrual Complete Express Gel Caplets
- Excedrin PM Caplets
- Excedrin PM Express Gel Caplets
- Excedrin PM Tablets
- Excedrin Tension Headache Caplets
- Excedrin Tension Headache Express Gel Caplets
- Excedrin Tension Headache Gel Tablets
The recalled products were distributed throughout the
United States, but not internationally.
Novartis has suspended operations at its Lincoln plant
"to accelerate maintenance and other improvement activities
at the site."
There have been no reports of illness or injury from the
products. The company says it confirmed the problem during
an internal product review following customer complaints.
"Mixing of different products in the same bottle could result in
consumers taking the incorrect product and receiving a higher
or lower strength than intended or receiving an unintended
ingredient," Novartis warns. "This could potentially result
in overdose, interaction with other medications a consumer may
to the unintended ingredient."
Consumers who have the recalled products should stop using
them and contact Novartis (888-477-2403 or novartisOTC.com)
for information on returning them for a refund.
