A batch of widely prescribed painkillers has been pulled from pharmacy shelves nationally after the discovery of a drug four times its strength inside one packet, prompting concerns of potential overdoses across Australia.
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A sleeve of 30mg Anamorph tablets was found inside a box of 5mg Endone tablets, according to an "urgent medicine quarantine" alert circulated internally by the Australian Department of Health's Therapeutic Goods Administration.
"The Anamorph tablets are approximately four times the Endone equivalent dose, so there is a theoretical potential for overdose, particularly if taken by an opioid naive patient," the warning, seen by the Herald, says.
The nation-wide quarantine alert was made on Friday for a specific batch of the drug produced by Aspen Pharma.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said Aspen Pharma had initiated an investigation into the matter.
"The origin of the report was from South Australia, however, all jurisdictions were advised of the quarantine as a precautionary measure," the spokeswoman said in a statement.
"The quarantine action suspends further supply and distribution pending further investigation."
The spokeswoman said the TGA was not aware that any person had consumed Anamorph as a result of the mix-up and it was still being determined which states of Australia are affected.
The Herald understands the TGA warning proposed pharmacies "immediately quarantine" all units of the particular batch before further notice.
The active ingredient in Anamorph is morphine, while Endone contains oxycodone hydrochloride.
The quarantine applies to one batch only, the Department of Health said, but it is not known how many packets remain on the market.
Aspen Pharma Australia, which is based in Sydney, was contacted for comment.
