FDA Warns Of Possible Medication Mix Up

NOVI (WWJ) - The FDA is warning patients about a potential mix-up between powerful prescription pain drugs and common over-the-counter medications like Excedrin.  The company that makes them says the pills may have accidentally been packaged with powerful prescription painkillers made at the same facility.

WWJ Newsradio 950 spoke with Dr. Robert Zaid, Associate Chair of Family Medicine at Providence Park Hospital.

"In this case they are concerned that some medications that shouldn't have been in Excedrin pills may have made their way into the pills," said Zaid.

He offered this advice for the public:

"Make sure, if you're using these products, that you do not take the medications, that you make sure all of the shapes and the pills look equal," Zaid said.

Novartis announced Sunday it would recall certain bottles of the headache medicine Excedrin and caffeine caplets NoDoz with expiration dates of Dec. 20, 2014. The company is also recalling some packages of pain medicine Bufferin and stomach medicine Gas-X with expiration dates of Dec. 20, 2013, or earlier

Customers with questions call the company at 1-888-477-2403 Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.  Patients can also call Endo Pharmaceuticals' call center at 1-800-462-3636.

Get more information at www.fda.gov.