Urgent Medicine Recall Notice. Are You Affected? Read This!

THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM GSK MALAYSIA

Kuala Lumpur, 30 March 2023 – GSK Malaysia is voluntarily recalling one batch of Zyrtec-D (120MG/5MG TABLETS X400), with batch number 321907 and expiry date of January 2025 printed on the blister pack. The recalled product is shown in Figure 1 below.

  • The decision to recall the product is a precautionary measure after some units were found to have blisters that were incorrectly sealed.
  • At the present time, there is no evidence that any other batches are affected, and no other complaints have been received about this product from any market since 2018.
  • Patient safety is of the utmost priority for GSK, and as a responsible pharmaceutical company, we are taking swift action to address the issue.
  • This recall does not affect Zyrtec Drop 10mg/ml, Zyrtec Solution 1mg/ml and Zyrtec Tablet 10mg, and patients may continue these medications.
MORE ABOUT THE RECALL
Figure 1: Printed side of the blister pack; click image for a larger and clearer version.

All tablet packs/blisters from this batch are being recalled at all levels in the Malaysian market, including those already dispensed to patients.

  • GSK is requesting all patients who have been dispensed Zyrtec-D tablets from any in-country retail, pharmacy, or healthcare outlet to return the product with immediate effect to the original point of purchase, within the next 15 days.
  • We urge all healthcare professionals to immediately cease prescribing, dispensing, selling, or distributing product from this batch.
  • Patients should seek advice from their healthcare provider on alternative treatments.

We understand that this recall may cause inconvenience to our patients, and we apologize for any inconvenience caused. GSK is committed to supplying high-quality medicines to our patients, and the quality of our products remains our utmost priority. We assure you that we are investigating the matter thoroughly and will take all necessary steps to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.

There is no adverse event reported to GSK Pharmacovigilance for the mentioned batch as of today. GSK monitors and reports safety events for all GSK products and reports to relevant regulatory authorities.

CONTACT DETAILS
  • Consumers or healthcare providers with questions regarding this recall may contact GSK by phone at +603-7495 2600 on Monday through Friday from the hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, or by e-mail at [email protected]
  • Patients who have been prescribed and dispensed product from this batch and have concerns should contact their healthcare provider first.
  • Pharmacy, clinic and hospital that have recalled product to be returned, please directly contact Zuellig Pharma Sdn Bhd at 1800 88 1388 / [email protected]
  • Any matter related to Human Safety Information / Adverse Event, please contact GSK Pharmacovigilance at [email protected]

Important Advice & Tips to Plan & Prepare for a Flood

WORDS LIM TECK CHOON

FEATURED EXPERT
DR CHAN YANJUN
Medical Director
International SOS

“With forecasts indicating that our rainy season is far from over, Malaysians need to be prepared in case of floods,” advises Dr Chan Yanjun. “While there are many different actions people should undertake in a flood situation, the most important rule is do not try to walk, swim or drive through flood water. Cars and people can be swept away, so always remember safety first and to stay alert so you don’t get hurt.”

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO TO SAFEGUARD YOURSELF & YOUR LOVED ONES IN CASE OF A FLOOD
  • Identify flood or landslide-prone areas near you. Watch weather alerts and warnings.
  • Stock up enough water (ration roughly 4 litres per person per day) and dry food for 3 days.
  • Know your community’s evacuation routes and emergency shelter locations.
  • If you are stranded, injured or ill, contact your local emergency services department and wait for help.
IF A FLOOD HITS YOUR HOME, REMEMBER THESE POINTERS
  • Check the drainage system behind or outside your house to see the water levels. The higher the water level climbs, the more likely you will have to evacuate.
  • Switch off all gas, electricity, and water when electricity supply is down, water has entered your home, or before you evacuate. Make sure to unplug appliances to avoid electrical shock when power returns.
  • Move to higher ground. Only move to the roof if necessary.
  • If your family is advised to evacuate, do so immediately (lock gates and doors before leaving if possible).
WHEN YOU ARE ON THE ROAD DURING A FLOOD
  • Stay off bridges as they can be washed away in severe floods.
  • Stay inside your vehicle if you are trapped by rapidly moving water.
  • Move to the roof of your car if water starts to fill the interior.
WHAT TO DO AFTER THE FLOOD
  • Do not return home unless advised to do so. Wait for a signal by authorities or emergency services on the status of your housing area.
  • Look out for animals that may be inside your house. This includes snakes, lizards and even crocodiles.
  • Keep children and pets out of the affected area until clean-up has been completed.
  • Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles during clean-up of affected area.
  • Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected (such as, mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and most paper products).
  • Remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or flood waters.
  • Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, moulding, wood and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures) with hot water and laundry or dish detergent.
  • Help the drying process by using fans, air conditioning units, and dehumidifiers.
  • Have your onsite waste-water system professionally inspected and serviced if you suspect damage.
  • After completing the clean-up, wash your hands with soap and clean water.
  • Wash all clothes worn during the clean-up in hot water and detergent. These clothes should be washed separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens.
  • Seek immediate medical attention if you become injured or ill.

Important Advice to Stay Prepared During the Monsoon Season

WORDS LIM EN NI

FEATURED EXPERT
LIM EN NI
Chief Pharmacist
Alpro Pharmacy

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) recently announced that Malaysia will experience continuous heavy rainfall from mid-November, leading to probable major flash floods in several states, and the monsoon season will last until early next year.

We would like to outline several precautionary measures for residents in flood-prone areas, from a community pharmacist’s point of view, to proactively mitigate flood damages ahead of the period and in the aftermath.

BEFORE A FLOOD
  • Closely monitor your surroundings and stay up to date on weather forecasts and warnings
  • Assemble disaster supplies, including long-term medications and first aid kits in water-proof bags in case of evacuation.
  • People, especially the elderly, with chronic diseases, are advised to visit their nearest pharmacy and bring along with their chronic medications, in order to keep a record in the pharmacy and have an up-to-date medication list; this will be useful should one lose the hard-copy of their prescription and face difficulties in retrieving their medication
AFTER A FLOOD
  • Due to poor sanitation and hygiene in flood areas, there is a high risk of flood-borne diseases such as leptospirosis, cholera, and dengue fever. Keep an eye out for general symptoms such as fever, headache, diarrhoea, muscle aches, and vomiting. In the case of any such symptoms, please visit the nearest healthcare centres immediately.
  • Alpro Pharmacy and DOC2US have launched the Life-saving Medication Care Programme, which provides a one-time supply of medications for up to 7 days for free. Those with contaminated or lost chronic disease medications can visit an Alpro Pharmacy outlet and speak to the pharmacist for more details. Note that a police report copy of the flooding is required for verification purposes.

Why You Need to Dispose Unwanted and Unused Meds Properly, and One Convenient Solution to Do This

WORDS LIM TECK CHOON

ARE YOU DISPOSING YOUR UNWANTED OR UNUSED MEDICINES CORRECTLY?

If you gather all these medications and dump them into the trash bin, you’re not exactly doing it properly.

SO, HOW SHOULD YOU DO IT?

Well, the best way to dispose of unwanted or unused meds is to drop them off at a proper facility—a facility that is equipped to dispose of these medications in a manner that will not cause possible harm to other people as well as the environment.

HMM, WHERE IS THE NEAREST FACILITY TO DO THIS, THEN?

Well, as of the time of writing, there is a convenient drop-off point for all your unused and unwanted medications: the nearest CARiNG Pharmacy outlet.

This is made possible through the Do It Right programme, a collaboration between the Faculty of Pharmacy of Universiti Malaya and the pharmacy retail chain.

CARiNG Pharmacy outlets will operate as a drop-off point for these medications, which will then be transported to Kualiti Alam Incineration Centre for further processing and proper disposal.

“Unwanted medicines left at home are a safety issue. Over 10,205 people required hospitalization because of medicine poisonings across Malaysia. Unwanted medicines in homes pose a health hazard especially to children,” Loo Jooi Leng, the Marketing Director of CARiNG Pharmacy, says to us in order to explain the rationale of this programme.

YES, YOU CAN NOW DROP OFF YOUR UNUSED & EXPIRED MEDS AT ANY CARiNG OUTLET
Do It Right programme logo

  1. READ
    Read the labels of the medicines in your cabinet and check which are expired and no longer needed.
  2. REMOVE
    Remove the expired or unwanted medicines from your cabinet and place them into a bag.
  3. RETURN
    Return the bag to any CARiNG Pharmacy near you and their staff will place it in a secure bin for safe disposal.

For more information on the Do It Right programme, you can visit their website (link opens in a new tab).