Nurofen mix up with Seroquel schizophrenia drug warns MHRA

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDAug 26 2011

British drug regulators have issued a safety alert on Thursday after discovering packs of the over-the-counter painkiller Nurofen Plus containing the anti-psychotic drug Seroquel XL.

According to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) alert thousands of packs in three different batches of Nurofen Plus have contamination with Seroquel XL tablets. The two medicines look very different but the MHRA said it had been informed that two patients took Seroquel XL instead of Nurofen Plus as a result of the unexplained packaging mix-up. The large capsules of Seroquel XL 50mg tablets have gold-and-black packaging, while the Nurofen Plus tablets are smaller and have silver-and-black packs.

Seroquel XL, made by AstraZeneca, is a prescription-only drug used to treat serious psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and bipolar disease. Nurofen Plus, made by Reckitt Benckiser, is a popular painkiller containing codeine that needs no prescription.

Neal Patel of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society said a single dose of Seroquel XL was unlikely to cause major problems for a healthy adult. “However, for patients taking other medicines or those with other medical conditions or if you suspect you may have accidentally taken Seroqel and feel unwell, seek advice from your pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible,” he said. Side effects of this drug can include dizziness, weight gain, rapid heart rate and blurred vision.

Dr Aomesh Bhatt, medical director for Nurofen Plus, said, “We are in  the process of working to ensure the Nurofen Plus packs are double-checked by pharmacy staff before they are handed to customers.” Reckitt Benckiser, manufacturer of Nurofen Plus, confirmed that ‘serious investigations’ were under way to work out how the mix-up happened.

Ian Holloway, from the MHRA’s defective medicines report centre, said, “If you have any affected packets of Nurofen Plus, return them to the pharmacy. You can report this on 020 3080 6574. If you’ve taken a tablet, speak to your GP.”

The affected packs of Nurofen Plus are the ones carrying the following batch and product license numbers: 13JJ, 00327/0082; 57JJ, 00063/0376; 49JJ, 00063/0376.

Following the alert, many packs are being checked by pharmacists before they are sold.