Warning for anyone who takes it
Warning for anyone taking common blood pressure medication Ramipril
A common blood pressure medication is being urgently recalled in the UK over a packaging error which could put patients and households at risk. Crescent Pharma Limited has issued a precautionary recall of Ramipril 5 mg Capsules.
A manufacturing error means Ramipril 5 mg Capsules, with the batch number GR164099, contains blister strips of Amlodipine 5 mg Tablets inside the sealed carton instead.
Shareen Doak, Deputy Director, Benefit-Risk Evaluation, at MHRA, said in a warning for UK households: “If you have received this batch, check that the medication name on the carton matches the blister strips inside.
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“If the carton contains blister strips that are labelled as Amlodipine 5 mg tablets, contact your dispensing pharmacy.”
Ramipril is a medicine widely used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart failure. It’s also prescribed after a heart attack.
Ramipril helps prevent future strokes, heart attacks and kidney problems. It also improves your survival if you’re taking it for heart failure or after a heart attack, the NHS said.
“Please take the leaflet that came with your medicine and any remaining tablets with you to your pharmacy or GP practice,” the health official advised.
“If you’ve already taken Amlodipine, please be reassured that there is a very low risk to your health.”
The warning from the MHRA this week went on to also add: “Both medications are used to treat high blood pressure, however because your body may not be used to a different type of medicine, your blood pressure may become lower than normal, and you may experience dizziness because of taking amlodipine.“
Most adults aged 18 and over can take ramipril. If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar (glucose) more often, particularly in the first few weeks. This is because ramipril can lower the sugar level in your blood.