Could your Sertraline pack contain Citalopram? Check batch V2500425 — the recall affecting thousands across the UK.
A manufacturing mix-up at a single pharmaceutical site has triggered a nationwide recall affecting nearly 82,000 boxes of Sertraline. ()
A patient’s routine discovery has set off one of the UK’s largest recent drug recalls. More than 80,000 packs of a widely used antidepressant have been pulled from circulation after a patient prescribed Sertraline 100mg film-coated tablets opened their sealed box and found blister strips of an entirely different drug — Citalopram 40mg film-coated tablets — inside.
The alert was issued on 28 April 2026. UK-based pharmaceutical company Amarox Limited is recalling one batch of Sertraline 100mg film-coated tablets as a precautionary measure, following a patient complaint that helped identify the packaging error. The regulator confirmed that exactly 81,872 packs are included in the recall.
Both Sertraline and Citalopram are produced by the same manufacturer at the same site, and the error appears to have occurred during the secondary packaging stage — when blister strips are inserted into outer cartons. In short, strips of the wrong medication were placed inside boxes labelled as a different drug before they were sealed and dispatched.
Both drugs belong to the same class of antidepressants — selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs — used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, and related mental health conditions by increasing serotonin activity in the brain.
Despite their similarities, they are not interchangeable. The two medications differ in active ingredient, dosage range, drug interactions, and contraindications, meaning a patient unknowingly switched from one to the other could face withdrawal effects from the missing drug, unexpected side effects from the substitute, or a dangerous accumulation of serotonin if both overlap in the body.
The most serious clinical concern is serotonin syndrome — a condition that can develop when serotonin levels spike due to overlapping or mismatched SSRI exposure. Symptoms include agitation, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, and muscle twitching, with severe cases potentially causing seizures or loss of consciousness.
The MHRA’s chief safety officer, Dr Alison Cave, sought to reassure patients while urging vigilance. She said that patients who have accidentally taken Citalopram instead of — or in addition to — Sertraline may experience heightened serotonergic side effects, including nausea, headache, sleep disturbances, and mild anxiety.
Dr Cave gave clear guidance on how to check your medication. If you have been prescribed Sertraline 100mg tablets and received batch number V2500425, check the carton immediately. The batch number and expiry date are printed on the side of the outer packaging. If the blister strips inside are labelled Citalopram 40mg, contact your pharmacy as soon as possible. If they are labelled Sertraline 100mg, no further action is needed.
Crucially, patients should not stop taking antidepressant medication abruptly without medical guidance, as sudden SSRI withdrawal can cause dizziness, nausea, irritability, and a return of depressive symptoms.
Patients who believe they have already taken Citalopram 40mg tablets by mistake, or who are experiencing any side effects, are advised to seek medical advice immediately.
Patients may need to be monitored more closely by a doctor or healthcare professional — particularly those over 65 or under 18, those with cardiac or liver conditions, or those known to process certain medicines differently.
Pharmacists and other healthcare professionals involved in dispensing are instructed to identify and contact any patients who may have received the affected batch, request the return of any remaining medicine, and notify the patient’s GP or responsible clinician to discuss whether a new prescription is needed.
The recall is classified as Class 2 and was issued under reference EL(26)A/22. Any suspected adverse reactions should be reported through the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme, either online or by calling the agency directly.
References:
- Precautionary recall of antidepressant medication due to manufacturing error – (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/precautionaryrecall-of-antidepressant-medication-due-to-manufacturing-error)
Source-Medindia