Australians who use Valium are encouraged to return every 5 milligrams of tablets in a national withdrawal after the manufacturer of the drug has found evidence.The manufacturer Roche recalled all packs of 50 tablets of Valium 5 milligrams after finding that the packages contain different drugs.
Approximately 30,000 packages are distributed throughout the country each month.
Roche's product manager, Svend Peterson, urges customers to give their Valium to pharmacists.
"I am not sure how many patients would be affected, but it is important that the packets are returned and that patients seek medical advice," he said.
"We do not know when this problem has started, but we are taking every possible measure to ensure patient safety."
Mr. Peterson said that Roche was not sure when the funeral began, but it was "very recent and small-scale".
"We do not know if it concerns one or more employees, but we think it is very limited and contains a unit."
The infant was held in a distribution center, according to Peterson, and the company informed the TGA as soon as they discovered.
"No need to worry about the individual Valium tablets themselves - it's only packaging these 50 packages and using alternative medicines."
TGA issues recall
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) released a series of commercial messages on Valium products last Friday that explores possible drug packaging.
In a statement, the TGA stated that Valium 5mg tablets contain diazepam, which is used to treat anxiety disorders, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and muscle cramps.
"It has been found that blister packs containing other drugs are being replaced in some packages of Valium 5 mg tablets," the statement said.
"These medications may include BTC Paracetamol Codeine tablets, BTC Rosuvastatin 10 mg tablets, and Apotex-Pantoprazole 40 mg tablets.
"If a patient has an affected package, there is a risk that they will not have enough medication and they are taking the wrong medicine, which can have serious health effects."
Police in New South Wales said that over a period of time they investigated the theft of a number of Valium from a company in Rydalmere, northwest of Sydney.
A spokesman for the Australian Consumer Health Forum, Mark Metherell, said the revocation was surprisingly low.
"It's annoying," Metherell said.
"Although, according to the TGA, no large number of blisters are involved, the way it has been treated has been somewhat weak in profile than likely to expect much from the community.
"Valium tablets were filled with something that was not Valium".
Tampering 'not widespread'
The TGA stated that it was believed that manipulation was not widespread.
The TGA recommends that patients take Valium to return the drugs to the same pharmacy where they are alternated to receive a full refund or replacement with another drug.
Pharmacists are encouraged to inspect their stock and quarantine all parts of the product before returning them.
Australian Medical Association's Federal Vice-President Dr. Tony Bartone said that patients may experience side effects or overdose if they take a bad drug.
"He is worried that they will not get the medication they believe they are getting, and it is worrying that they have medications that can cause side effects or other problems," he said.
"Certainly, if they are allergic to certain components, especially with codeine, and also that there may be an overdose.
"Anything that interrupts the supply chain or the quality of medicine in Australia is absolutely a concern and must be fully investigated by the police."
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