Recall of blood pressure drug after dosage error on label

THOUSANDS of packets of a popular blood pressure drug have been recalled amid fears that some patients may have been receiving dangerous levels of medication due to a labelling error.

Dilzem XL, marketed by the Elan Corporation, was yesterday the subject of a warning issued by the Irish Medicines Board, which said some patients may have received higher-than-prescribed doses due to the error.

The drug, which contains an ingredient called diltiazem hydrochloride, is a prescription-only medication used to treat most blood pressure conditions, such as angina or hypertension.