In a press release, the UK-based pharmaceutical manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser announced that they have ceased the production and distribution of their Nurofen Plus due to the suspicion of tampering and sabotage.
The British Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a Class 1 drug alert to consumers and healthcare professionals based on five reported cases that other drugs, including antipsychotics, have been found inside the packaging for Nurofen Plus. RCGP chairwoman Dr. Clare Gerada stated, “Patients should always be careful when taking medication, but in this case I would like to remind all patients to be extra vigilant if they are taking Nurofen Plus, and to check the blister packaging thoroughly. The MHRA has acted really speedily on this, and I would like to echo its call for patients to check and double check their Nurofen Plus, and to return any affected packets to the pharmacy they came from. If patients continue to have concerns, or display any adverse effects from their medication, they should contact their GP.”
The anti-psychotic Seroquel XL was discovered in four packets of the recalled products and Neurotonin, an epilepsy prescription medication, was found in a packet of Nurofen Plus bought from an independent pharmacist in Northern Ireland. The company now thinks this is sabotage and suspects animal rights activists because the product is tested on animals.
While Nurofen Plus is mainly distributed throughout the UK, several stores in the United States have been known to carry the product. As a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, I felt it necessary to alert our readers to this potentially deadly situation. If you’ve been adversely affected by a drug product, it may be in your best interests to speak with a product defect lawyer.