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BY OUR PHARMA CORRESPONDENT
5 August, 2005: The Perrigo Company is voluntarily recalling all lots of concentrated infants’ drops that are packaged with a dosing syringe bearing only a “1.6 mL” mark containing acetaminophen, acetaminophen, dextromethorphan HBr, and pseudoephedrine HCl, or dextromethorphan HBr, and pseudoephedrine HCl, a US FDA release said.
The products are being recalled because the oral dosing syringe enclosed with these products is not marked so as to accurately measure doses less than 1.6 mL when prescribed by physicians for infants younger than 2 years and weighing less than 24 pounds. Until recently these products were provided with a dropper, not the oral dosing syringe, and the dropper had two markings on it (“0.4 mL” and “0.8 mL”).
The dosing syringe may be confusing in determining the proper dose for infants under 2 years of age as directed by a doctor and could lead to improper dosing, including overdosing. The following products are being recalled to the retail level:
-Cherry Flavor Infant Pain Reliever 160 mg Acetaminophen (0.5oz. and 1.0oz)
-Grape Flavor Infant Pain Reliever 160 mg Acetaminophen (0.5oz. and 1.0oz)
-Cherry Flavor Cough and Cold Infant Drops (0.5oz)
-Cherry Flavor Decongestant and Cough Infant Drops (0.5oz)
The directions on the bottle and carton labeling for infants ages 2-3 years and weighing 24-35 pounds allow safe and effective dosing for this age and weight group. However, these products are also intended for use by infants younger than 2 years and weighing less than 24 pounds. The labeling directs consumers to ask a doctor for dosing directions for this age and weight group.
The single mark on the current syringe along with the changeover from the dropper to this syringe has caused some confusion among consumers and health-care professionals and may lead to improper dosing. Taking more than the recommended dose (overdose) of acetaminophen may cause liver damage. The products, however, are safe and effective when accurately dosed. Parents or caregivers who have questions should discuss with their doctor how to accurately determine the proper dose.
The recalled products were sold nationally at retail chains under the following store-brand labels: American Fare, Best Choice, Brooks, Berkley & Jensen, CVS, Dollar General, Eckerd, Equaline, Equate, Family Dollar, Food Lion, Good Neighbor, GoodSense, Healthy Generations, Health Pride, Hy-Vee, Kroger, Leader, Longs, Major, Medicine Shoppe, Meijer, Parklane, Publix, Rite Aid, Safeway, Shop Rite, Sunmark, Target, Today’s Health, Top Care, Walgreen, Western Family, and Winn Dixie.
Based in Allegan, Michigan, USA, Perrigo is a leading global healthcare supplier and the world’s largest manufacturer of the over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical and nutritional products sold by food, drug, mass merchandise, dollar store and club store retailers under their own labels. Recently, Perrigo acquired (March 17, 2005) Agis Industries in an effort to expedite the launch of its generic strategy. The collective sales for Agis and Perrigo exceed $1.3 billion dollars. The company operates manufacturing and logistics faculties in the United States, Israel, United Kingdom, Mexico, and Germany, employing over 6,000 people.
BY OUR PHARMA CORRESPONDENT
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