Boots has placed a ‘do not take’ alert on a batch of its 500mg paracetamol packets and has advised customers who have that particular pack at home to return it to their nearest store
High street pharmacy Boots has urgently recalled one of its own-brand paracetamol from shelves over fears the packets had a different drug inside. The shop stuck a ‘do not take’ alert on a batch of its 500mg tablets after concerns were raised the drug, which costs under £1, had been packaged incorrectly.
The inner blister packs appear to say they contain aspirin which is risky for some patients. Boots originally said it was unclear whether the product actually contained aspirin or whether there had simply been a labelling error.
A spokesperson has now confirmed the tablets are paracetamol 500mg and not aspirin but the recall has remained in place for one batch of its 16-pack tablets.
Customers who have a pack with item code 81-99-922 and an expiry date of December 2029 have been advised to return the product to their local store for a full refund. The retailer said: “The supplier is currently conducting a full investigation. Please do not take this product.”
The shop added that the tablets ‘should not be kept at home, even if the error is known, as this could lead to confusion and an incorrect dose being taken’. Batch and expiry information can be found on the top of the pack where it is opened.
The item code is located between the barcode and the Boots logo on the side. While paracetamol and aspirin are both effective painkillers, aspirin is not suitable to take for people with certain health conditions or allergies to the drug.
Aspirin is taken once a day in low doses of 75mg to 100mg by millions as a preventive therapy for circulatory diseases such as heart attacks and strokes as well as cancers. In higher doses (300mg and above) it can help treat pain, headaches and fever.
But the NHS says you should only take daily low-dose aspirin if your doctor recommends it.
The NHS also warns that taking aspirin regularly can cause ulcers in the gut by damaging the stomach and intestinal lining.
Pregnant women are also advised to be cautious about taking aspirin, with paracetamol being the recommended painkiller for them as high dose aspirin can affect the baby’s circulation.
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