Sabotage Fears As Nurofen Plus Is Recalled

The makers of Nurofen Plus have recalled all of the tablets and confirmed sabotage is suspected after other medicines were found in some packets.

Five reported cases of other manufacturers' medicines have been discovered in boxes
of the painkiller.

A spokesman for manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser (UK) Ltd said: "Sabotage is suspected and we are working with the police on a formal investigation to find the person or persons responsible.

"Distribution of Nurofen Plus has been halted at this time."

On Thursday a safety alert was issued after an anti-psychotic drug made by AstraZeneca called Seroquel XL 50mg was found in three packets of the painkiller.

They were bought in Victoria, Bromley and Beckenham, south London.

Two more packets were found on Friday - one contained Seroquel XL tablets and the other contained the Pfizer product, Neurontin 100mg capsules.

Neurontin is an anti-epileptic drug.

Seroquel XL is a prescription-only drug used to treat several disorders including schizophrenia, mania and bipolar depression.

People who accidentally take it may experience sleepiness and are advised not to drive or operate any tools or machinery until they know how the tablets have affected them.

The Reckitt Benckiser spokesman added: "The safety of our consumers is paramount.

"Even though there have been no serious health consequences to any consumer, we will not take any risk regarding the quality or safety of our products.

"This decision has been taken in full consultation with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as a precautionary measure."

Ian Holloway, of the MHRA's Defective Medicines Report Centre (DMRC), said: "People should check to see if they have any packets of Nurofen Plus.

"If you do, return them to your nearest pharmacy."