Health authorities are carrying out a precautionary check on a specific batch of the anticoagulant Warfant 3mg after reports that some packages may contain 1mg tablets instead of 3mg.
According to a statement from the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO), the issue concerns exclusively batch 25002 of Warfant Tablet 3mg. The HIO was informed of the issue by the Pharmaceutical Services and sent a written message to patients who had been dispensed the drug after the batch entered circulation.
Patients are asked to check the tablets in their packaging. The 3mg tablets should be blue in colour. If the tablets are a different colour, or if there is any doubt, the packaging should be taken to the nearest pharmacy for inspection.
In its urgent notice, the company said that following consultation with the Pharmaceutical Services and the marketing authorisation holder, no recall from pharmacies will take place at this stage. Stocks of batch 25002 will remain available, on condition that every package is checked before it is dispensed.
Pharmacies have been asked to open each package in front of the patient before any sale or dispensing, confirm that the tablets are blue, withhold the product and immediately notify the company if tablets of a different colour are found, and contact any pharmacies or patients already supplied with products from this batch. The company said pharmacies will be compensated for any defective packages identified during checks, and that further instructions will follow once a new, unaffected batch becomes available.
What patients should do
Warfant is an anticoagulant, and its dosage is determined individually based on medical guidance and INR test results. Taking a tablet of lower strength than prescribed could result in insufficient anticoagulant effect.
Patients taking Warfant 3mg from batch 25002 are urged to seek an immediate check from a pharmacist. They should not stop treatment, change their dose or take additional tablets on their own initiative. Any change should be made only on the instructions of a doctor, pharmacist or the relevant anticoagulation monitoring service.
