Health chiefs have issued an urgent recall of a widely used blood pressure drug after a manufacturing error meant some packs may contain the wrong dosage.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) warned that boxes labelled as Ramipril 10mg capsules could actually include blister strips containing the lower 5mg dose.
The alert was triggered after a patient discovered the mistake inside a sealed pack.
Officials say the error appears to have occurred during the packaging process at the factory where both strengths of the drug are produced.
Patients are being urged to check their medication for batch number GR174091, printed on the outer carton.
Anyone with this batch should ensure the dose on the blister strips matches the box.
If 5mg capsules are found inside a 10mg pack, patients should return the medication to their pharmacy.
However, packs that are correctly labelled do not need to be returned.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency warned that boxes labelled as Ramipril 10mg capsules could actually include blister strips containing the lower 5mg dose
Despite the mix-up, experts stressed the risk to patients is very low.
Ramipril is prescribed for high blood pressure, heart failure and kidney disease and both doses are routinely used in treatment.
This means taking a lower dose by mistake is unlikely to cause immediate harm.
The MHRA said any impact would be gradual rather than sudden or life-threatening.
Patients who feel unwell after taking the medication are advised to seek medical advice and bring the medicine with them.
Pharmacists and healthcare providers have also been told to stop supplying the affected batch and return any remaining stock.
Dr Alison Cave, the MHRA’s Chief Safety Officer, said: ‘If you take Ramipril 10mg, check the packaging for batch number GR174091.
‘If the carton contains blister strips labelled as Ramipril 5mg, contact your dispensing pharmacy. If they are correctly labelled as 10mg, no further action is needed.’
Ramipril belongs to a class of drugs known as ACE inhibitors, which lower blood pressure by relaxing and widening blood vessels.
It is one of the most commonly prescribed medicines in the UK, with tens of millions of prescriptions issued by the NHS each year.
It is estimated to be in the health service’s top five most commonly prescribed drugs.
The recall follows a similar incident earlier this year involving Ramipril 5mg packs that were mistakenly filled with a different blood pressure drug.
In that case, regulators also said the risk to patients was low, although some could experience dizziness if their blood pressure dropped too far.
