The Directorate of Drugs Control Punjab on Tuesday issued a “Most Urgent Medicine Recall Alert” for a specific batch of Erizine 10mg Tablets after the medication was declared substandard by the Drug Testing Laboratory Punjab.
Erizine 10mg contains Cetirizine Dihydrochloride, an antihistamine commonly used to treat allergy symptoms, including sneezing, a runny nose and itchy or watery eyes.
According to a statement issued by the Directorate, the Provincial Quality Control Board, Punjab, ordered the immediate recall of the affected batch from the market following the laboratory findings.
The product’s Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) has been directed to immediately initiate a nationwide recall of the affected batch.
Pharmacies, medical stores, wholesalers, distributors and healthcare facilities have been instructed to stop dispensing the affected product without delay. They have also been asked to submit details of their available stock and consumption records to the relevant area Drug Inspector or the Drug Inspector assigned to the concerned health facility.
The Directorate further directed drug field formations across Punjab to enhance surveillance throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain and take regulatory action under the Drugs Act, 1976, the DRAP Act, 2012, and other applicable rules.
Authorities have also been instructed to ensure complete traceability of the recalled medicine and submit a comprehensive report to the Chief Drugs Controller, Punjab.
The Directorate advised consumers and patients to immediately stop using the affected batch, warning that the substandard medicine could pose a potential risk to health.
