Check ordered for Warfant 3mg batch over possible incorrect tablets

Nicosia, Cyprus. Health authorities are carrying out precautionary checks on batch 25002 of Warfant Tablet 3mg following reports that some packages may contain 1mg tablets instead of 3mg tablets.

The Health Insurance Organisation said patients supplied with the affected batch have received written notifications and should have their medication checked by a pharmacist.

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Batch identification and patient advice

According to the Health Insurance Organisation, the issue concerns exclusively batch 25002 of Warfant Tablet 3mg. The organisation said it was informed by the Pharmaceutical Services after the batch entered circulation.

Patients have been asked to check the tablets in their packaging. Warfant 3mg tablets should be blue. If tablets are a different colour, or if there is any uncertainty, patients should take the package to the nearest pharmacy for inspection.

Pharmacy checks

Following consultation with the Pharmaceutical Services and the marketing authorisation holder, no recall from pharmacies will take place at this stage.

Stocks from batch 25002 will remain available provided that each package is checked before dispensing. Pharmacies have been instructed to open every package in the presence of the patient, confirm that the tablets are blue, and withhold and immediately notify the company of any package containing tablets of a different colour.

Pharmacies have also been asked to contact other pharmacies or patients already supplied with products from the batch. The company said pharmacies will be compensated for defective packages identified during checks and that further instructions will be issued once a new unaffected batch is available.

Treatment guidance

Warfant is an anticoagulant whose dosage is determined individually according to medical guidance and INR test results. Taking a tablet with a lower strength than prescribed could result in an insufficient anticoagulant effect.

Patients taking Warfant 3mg from batch 25002 have been urged to seek an immediate pharmacy check. They should not stop treatment, alter their dose or take additional tablets without instructions from a doctor, pharmacist or the relevant anticoagulation monitoring service.