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Archived – Potential Mislabelling of Trazorel and Cesamet Bottles
- Starting date:
- October 20, 2009
- Posting date:
- October 20, 2009
- Type of communication:
- Advisory
- Subcategory:
- Drugs
- Source of recall:
- Health Canada
- Issue:
- Important Safety Information, Labelling and Packaging
- Audience:
- Healthcare Professionals
- Identification number:
- RA-110003076
Health Canada is warning patients who take the antidepressant Trazorel (50 mg) or the anti-nausea medication Cesamet (1 mg) of a mislabelling issue that may potentially result in patients getting the wrong medication.
The manufacturer of the two drugs, Valeant Canada, has received a report of one bottle in a shipment of Cesamet 1 mg capsules that was mislabelled as Trazorel 50 mg tablets. The company is working with distributors and pharmacists to recall the affected products.
Patients taking either of these medications should immediately check their prescription bottles to ensure that they contain the correct product. Trazorel 50 mg comes in round, peach-coloured tablets engraved with ICN T21. Cesamet 1 mg is sold in blue and white capsules with the number 3101 imprinted on the white part of the capsule.
Patients who have the wrong pills in their bottles should immediately contact their healthcare professional and return the medication to their pharmacist.
Trazorel (trazodone hydrochloride) is indicated to treat depression but is sometimes prescribed to induce sleep. A patient taking Cesamet instead of Trazorel could expect to experience a worsening of his or her depression. Cesamet (the brand name for the drug nabilone) is used to treat nausea associated with chemotherapy. Someone who has been taking Trazorel instead of Cesamet would continue to experience nausea and vomiting. According to the manufacturer of the drugs, Valeant Canada, Trazorel is sold primarily in Saskatchewan, while Cesamet is sold across the country.
Consumers requiring more information about this advisory can contact Health Canada's public enquiries line at 613-957-2991, or toll free at 1-866-225-0709.
Media enquiries
Health Canada
613-957-2983
Public enquiries
613-957-2991
1-866-225-0709
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