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A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) said today (February 18) that through their surveillance scheme, it was noted that there was an ongoing recall of Jantoven Warfarin Sodium, USP, 3mg Tablets in the United States because of mislabelled bottles in a lot (#284081, with expiration date in September 2012). Tablets were found to have an actual strength of 10mg instead. Thus, the lot, with distribution in US only, has to be recalled.
Warfarin Sodium is an anticoagulant used in the treatment and prophylaxis of thromboembolic disorders.
The spokesman confirmed that there was indeed no record of registration of the said products, whether 3mg or 10mg in Hong Kong. However, the serious consequence of life threatening haemorrhage by substituting 10mg warfarin for 3mg was what caused DH to make a public announcement, just in case there were people around who had the mislabelled drug in hand, the spokesman explained.
The DH spokesman went on to explain that the two Jantoven tablets can be readily identified by colour - the 3mg tablet is tan and the 10mg tablet is white. In addition, the 3mg tablet is imprinted with the letters WRF, a line, and the number 3 below the line. The reverse side of the 3mg tablet carries the number 832. The 10mg tablet is imprinted with the letters WRF, a line, and the number 10 below the line. The reverse side of the 10mg tablet also carries the number 832.
"Although the concerned products are not available in Hong Kong, we must be prudent because of the dreaded consequence." the spokesman stressed.
He further advised that patients should seek advice from healthcare providers if in doubt.
Ends/Friday, February 18, 2011
Issued at HKT 20:02
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