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A blood pressure medication has been recalled after a mix-up that may have led to some bottles containing the wrong drug.
According to Health Canada, Marcan Pharmaceuticals Inc. has recalled two lots of MAR-Amlodipine 5 milligram tablets, which are used to treat high blood pressure and chest pain.
That’s because some bottles may instead contain 2.5 milligram tablets of midodrine, a medication used to treat low blood pressure.
Patients can check whether they received the wrong drug by looking at the tablets.
The 5 milligram MAR-Amlodipine tablets are white or off-white, flat and eight-sided, with a line in the middle and the numbers 210 and 5 printed on one side.
The midodrine 2.5 milligram tables are white, round and say M2 on one side, with a line across the middle on the other side.
‘Serious side effects’
Health Canada says patients should return any bottle that contains the round tablets to their pharmacy and get a replacement.
According to its public advisory, substituting amlodipine with midodrine “can lead to serious side effects such as a dangerous increase in blood pressure, dizziness, fainting and organ damage.”
Anyone feeling dizzy, experiencing unusually high blood pressure or slow heartbeats is advised to call a health care professional or 911.
Health Canada says anyone experiencing chest pain, a sudden headache, impaired speech or an inability to move or feel a part of their body should seek immediate medical attention.
