An urgent medicine recall has been issued for bottles of "Betamin tablets" (thiamine hydrochloride 100 mg) due to some bottles mistakenly containing another medicine.
Medicine wholesaler Sanofi warned that one batch of its Betamin vitamin B tablets may instead be contaminated with one or more smaller tablets used to prevent blood clots called Plavix/Iscover (clopidogrel 75 mg).
The affected batch number is 124E001 with an expiry date of 02/18. Sanofi said the recall does not include any other batches.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration said that if patients accidentally take the blood thinning tablet, there is a low risk of increased bleeding.
Patients who are already prescribed with clopidogrel or other medicines that affect blood clotting may also have a bad reaction.
Patients should check the product packaging and return bottles with the matching batch number and expiry date to the place of purchase for a refund or a replacement.
Sanofi has written to all pharmacies providing information about the recall.
A spokeswoman said there have been no reported adverse events associated with the mix-up so far.
"Sanofi is committed to patient safety and the quality use of Betamin, and will continue to work closely with our partners and regulatory authorities to resolve this issue in a timely manner," she said.
Clopidogrel is used to prevent blood clots in patients with certain heart and blood vessel disorders.