Health Ministry withdraws Tylenol from UAE, okays Zyrtec

Abu Dhabi: The UAE Ministry of Health has issued a circular for all doctors and pharmacists in both public and private sectors to recall only Tylenol Drops and Suspensions from all pharmaceutical markets in the UAE upon request from the manufacturer.

The ministry confirmed that Zyrtec Allergy Liquid meets the medication products and specifications, according to Dr. Amin Al Ameri, Executive Director for Medical Practices and Licenses and Practices at the Ministry of Health.

Dr Al Ameri said the decision was issued to maintain the public health safety, pointing out that the US Food and Drug Administration FDA recalled the listed products from the markets based on the request of the manufacturing company due to problems with quality in the local and international market.

He said: "The company initiated this recall because the medicines contained a higher concentration of active ingredients, did not meet the quality standards and had the potential for serious crystals in their packages."

Dr Al Ameri said according to the procedures in the Registration and Drug Control Department at the Ministry of Health, it has been decided to suspend on temporarily basis the distribution of these products in the markets, recalling the medications and returning the remaining quantities to the local agent.

He urged all doctors, pharmacists and consumers who have any queries or suffer from any side effects to inform the ministry's Registration and Drug Control Department on the following contact details:

Landline: +9712 6117391 or +9712 6117318
Fax: +9712 6313742
E-mail: PV@moh.gov.ae
 
"The ministry closely monitors the situation regarding drugs safety through its continuous cooperation with the US Food and Drug Administration and other international competent organisations. The ministry also communicates with manufacturers and all necessary procedures as stated by the laws and regulations regarding the handling, registration and controlling of medicines through the ministry's Registration and Drug Control Department and pharmaco vigilance committee in cooperation with the health authorities inside the UAE and the manufacturing company," he added.

Dr Al Ameri explained that after the examination of Zyrtec Allergy Liquid, it has been proved that the medicine meets the medication products and specifications arriving from the European countries to the UAE. He pointed out that these exclude the list of medications affected and recalled in the US markets.