Urgent warning to millions to check their blood pressure medication due to threat of overdose
BRITS with high blood pressure have been urged to check their medicine boxes due to an overdose risk.
Almost 23 million people in the UK are thought to have blood pressure, otherwise known as hypertension.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have warned of a labelling blunder which means some packs of the medicine Lercanidipine contain twice the intended dose.
A batch of 20mg tablets was wrongly labelled as 10mg on some sides of the box, which could lead to people taking too much.
However, the correct dose is listed at the top of the box and on the foil blister packaging inside.
Patients should make sure the dose on the box matches the one on the foil pack and “should contact their pharmacist or GP immediately” if there’s a mismatch, the health watchdog said.
They recommended that those who have been prescribed 10mg and can’t reach a doctor or pharmacist before their next dose, check the foil strip.
If it shows 20mg and you know your prescribed dose is 10mg, take half a tablet until you receive proper advice, said the alert published today.
Lercanidipine is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure.
It helps relax blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump blood.
It’s usually prescribed when other blood pressure medications don’t work or aren’t suitable.
While exact numbers aren’t available, Lercanidipine makes up around 2.7 per cent of hypertension prescriptions in the UK.
With about 22.7 million people affected by high blood pressure, this suggests roughly 613,000 people might be using Lercanidipine.
The MHRA has urged patients to check if their medication from Recordati Pharmaceuticals Limited is batch MD4L07, expiring January 2028.
This code is on the blister pack foil. Over 7,700 affected packs have been distributed.
Symptoms of a Lercanidipine overdose include low blood pressure, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, increased heart rate and headaches.
It can also lead to swelling in the legs or ankles, nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness or fatigue.
In severe cases, dangerously low blood pressure may occur, leading to shock, organ damage, and potentially death.
Immediate medical attention is crucial to prevent serious complications.
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer said: “Patient safety is our top priority. We ask patients to check their medicine packaging and follow our advice.
“Healthcare professionals such as pharmacists are also being asked to stop supplying medicine from the affected batch and to return it to the supplier.”
How to lower blood pressure
Persistent high blood pressure (hypertension) puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs and it can raise your risk of serious conditions like heart disease, heart attacks and stroke. Here's how to reduce it.
Reduce salt
Adults are recommended to limit their salt to 6g per day (around one level teaspoon) to avoid health consequences including high blood pressure.
The top tip is to swap out table salt, according to the Salt Substitute and Stroke Study, replacing it with a reduced sodium and added potassium alternative.
Cut down on alcohol
Excessive boozing can narrow the blood vessels, which raises the risk of hypertension.
Official drinking guidelines advise that people should not regularly drink more than 14 units a week to keep health risks from alcohol low.
Get moving
Exercise is good for the heart and the blood vessels.
Although the guidelines recommend 150 minutes of activity per week, if you’re currently very inactive, just a walk to the shop every day is better than nothing, and you can work up from there.
Studies suggest that isometric exercises – when you hold the body in one position without moving, such as a wall squat or plank – are best for lowering blood pressure.
Stop smoking
Smoking cigarettes is a killer. It makes the arteries sticky and narrow, which can cause blockages.
While smoking is not a direct cause of high blood pressure, it can cause an instant rise to pressure, heart rate and reduce the amount of oxygen that gets to the body’s cells.
Skip coffee
Sadly, caffeine can cause a short, but dramatic increase in your blood pressure – even if you don’t have high blood pressure.
Therefore cutting back on coffee is recommended as a lifestyle tip for those with hypertension.
Lose weight
The above tips can help you to lose weight, which is beneficial because being overweight in itself is a risk factor for hypertension.
Being overweight forces your heart to work harder to pump blood around your body, which can raise your blood pressure.
The only way of knowing whether you have high blood pressure is to have a blood pressure test. All adults over 40 years old are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every five years.