A UK-based pharmaceutical company has issued its third product recall in three months, sparking renewed calls for pharmacies to be paid compensation for the cost of manufacturers’ mistakes.
Crescent Pharma Limited is recalling a batch of its 2.5mg ramipril blood pressure medication as a precautionary measure due to a packaging error.
The company initiated the precautionary class 2 recall because some cartons of 2.5mg ramipril capsules may contain blister strips of a higher 10mg dose of the medicine – which is used for the treatment of high blood pressure, kidney disease and heart failure.
The UK’s medicines watchdog said the latest decision followed two blister strips of ramipril 10mg capsules being found by a healthcare professional inside a sealed carton of Crescent Pharma Limited ramipril 2.5mg capsules.
Both product batches were manufactured at the same site and the error appears to have occurred during packaging of the cartons, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said.
The recall of this batch of ramipril 2.5mg capsules comes after the recall of ramipril 10mg capsules on 20 April and the recall of ramipril 5mg capsules on 6 March. All recalls have been linked to packaging errors.
In the wake of Amarox Limited’s recall of antidepressant medications the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) called for pharmacies to be reimbursed for the cost of these mistakes by the manufacturers who make them.
Olivier Picard, chair of the NPA, told The Pharmacist today that manufactures should be fined for the ‘issues they are causing’.
He added: ‘Significant recalls can be quite costly and extremely time-consuming for pharmacists. One pharmacist we spoke with spent eight hours quarantining stock in relation to another ramipril recall.
‘Furthermore, it’s a difficult conversation to have with patients, and, as you can imagine, it often undermines their trust in the medications they’re taking.
‘We would like to see manufacturers being penalised for these recalls. They should be paying a fine of some sort for the issues they’re causing.’
The Pharmacist has contacted Crescent Pharma Limited for comment.
Affected lot batch number:
- GR155023 – expiring 08/2027 – pack size: 28 – first distributed: 16 January 2026
The MHRA said that the key risk associated with the recalled batch is unintentional overdosing, where patients prescribed ramipril 2.5mg capsules may receive 10mg capsules.
Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer at the MHRA, said: ‘Any possible impact of taking a higher dose of ramipril should be assessed by a healthcare professional to determine whether any examination or tests are needed.
‘Signs and symptoms may include feeling lightheaded, fainting or being fatigued, or altered kidney function and may be more serious for vulnerable patients.’
Ramipril 2.5mg capsules are light grey and light green and marked with ‘R’ on the cap and ‘2.5’ on the body.
Ramipril 10 mg capsules are light grey and dark green and marked with ‘R’ on the cap and ‘10’ on the body.
Healthcare professionals are advised stop supplying the impacted batch of ramipril 2.5mg capsules immediately, quarantine all remaining stock, and return it to the supplier using approved processes.
Within 48 hours of the alert and to be actioned within five working days, pharmacists, or any other healthcare professionals involved in dispensing, should contact all patients who have been dispensed the impacted product and ask them to inspect the packs they have in their possession.
If batch or product traceability information is not available, pharmacists should identify all patients dispensed this product between 16 Jan 2026 and 22 May 2026. Attempts should be made to contact patients who have been dispensed the impacted product within the last 28 days as a priority.
Any patients with impacted packs should be told to stop taking them immediately, return them to the pharmacy and contact their GP practice. Patients with non-impacted packs – which should be the majority – should be informed they may continue to take the capsules from this batch
Where patients are identified with a defective pack, they should be told to contact their prescriber responsible for their care to discuss treatment review and if a new prescription is required for ongoing resupply
Patients who experience adverse reactions or have any questions about their medication should seek medical attention. Any suspected adverse reactions should also be reported via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
