Acetaminophen recall update: Wrongly labeled bottles could lead to overdose

Wikimedia Commons/Michelle Tribe

Medline Industries recently issued a voluntary recall of a single lot of acetaminophen tablets after discovering that the drugs carried the wrong strength.

The acetaminophen bottle affected in the recall had the label of 325 milligrams and contained 100 tablets.

The bottles also carried item number of OTC20101, NDC#: 53329-641-30, lot number 45810, and a stamped expiry date of May 2018.

They were shipped all over the country between June 12 and Sept. 18 this year.

According to Medline, the acetaminophen bottles carried the wrong labels for what are supposed to be 500 mg tablets.

The Food and Drug Administration stated that the company had already notified distributors, retailers, and consumers about the recall last Sept. 25 and is now working on the return and proper crediting of the products.

Acetaminophen is a popular over-the-counter medication used to temporarily manage common conditions such as headache, menstrual cramps, high fever, muscle aches, and toothaches.

Being an easily procured medicine, the recall is important because anyone who takes acetaminophen on a regular basis may believe they are getting the right or the maximum daily dose of the drug, when in fact they are getting more than that.

Taking high doses of aspirin or taking it with other acetaminophen-containing formulations can increase the risk for liver damage and ultimately liver failure, especially if the drug is taken for consecutive days.

The company urges consumers who may be in possession of the recalled product to contact 866-359-1704 or send an email to recalls@medline.com for inquiries.

In addition, the company also advised consumers, retailers, and distributors having the recalled bottles to stop selling or using them and return them to the company.

Anyone who believes they are experiencing problems related to the use of the affected products should immediately seek medical attention.

Doctors and health care providers should also report any adverse events related to the issue.