Drug Maker Recalls Some OTC Drugs to Avoid Mix-Up with Opioids Made at Same Plant

The drug maker Novartis is recalling 1,645 lots of certain over-the-counter medication, including Excedrin and Gas-X, because the products could potentially contain stray capsules or caplets from other products. Prescription opioids including Opana, Percocet, and an extended-release version of morphine tablets were made at the same plant.

The drug company and the Food and Drug Administration said they were not aware of any adverse events from any pill mix-ups, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The plant where the medicines were made, in Lincoln, Nebraska, was shut down last month, the article notes. Novartis is recalling 1,645 lots of Excedrin and NoDoz with expiration dates of December 20, 2014 or earlier, and Bufferin and Gas-X Prevention products with expiration dates of December 20, 2013 or earlier. The plant also made opioids for Endo Pharmaceutical Holdings. Novartis said in a statement it is recalling its products as a precaution because an internal product review and complaints identified issues including broken gel caps and chipped tablets and “a potential for tablet mix up could not be ruled out.”

The company said Gas-X Prevention is the only Novartis product made on the same line as the Endo products, and it did not receive reports of mix-ups of those medicines.