Dubai: The Ministry of Health is warning the public that Panadol Children & Infant suspension product labels on the medicine box do not indicate the proper dosage levels.
Improper dosage levels could lead to children being given too much of the medicine, the ministry warned on Thursday in a public statement.
The Ministry of Health sent out the warning to inform all medical entities, heads of medical centers, managers of public and private hospitals, doctors, pharmacists and assistant pharmacists.
The ministry drew attention to all target audiences that changes will be made to the information printed on the medicine boxes of the manufacturing company Glaxosmithkine.
According to a statement released by the ministry, “dose specification found on the medicine box is wrong and this results in giving the child or the infact a dose that does not suit their age due to an excessive dose of Paracetamol entering the body which could lead to liver poisoning.”
Dr. Amin Hussain Al Ameri, Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Practice and License Department in the Ministry of Health, signed the statement.
He could not be reached for comment by press time on Thursday.
Additionally, the Ministry of Health advises doctors to disregard the doses listed on the Panadol Infant and Children medicine boxes.
They are told to determine the necessary dose an infant should receive based on their age and weight until further notice from the Drug Management and Regulation section in the ministry.
The ministry has also provided a form for patients to fill out in case of any side effects provided by the ADR which can be found online on the website (www.cpd-pharma.ae).
(Maria Botros is a trainee at Gulf News)
