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On December 18, 2025 – DRAP Recall Falsified/Spurious/ unregistered Tramadol tablets  & Substandard betahist 16mg & Glitric 2.6mg Tablets

DRAP Recall Alert No: I/S/12-25-122

Action Date: 18 December 2025

Key Information

  • The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued a rapid alert based on findings reported by the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), Karachi.

  • Drug samples were submitted for testing by the National Task Force (NTF).

  • The tested products were declared unregistered, spurious, and/or falsified.

Identified Products

  • Tablet TAMOL-X 225 mg

    • Declared as unregistered and falsified

    • Batch no: TM004
    • Not registered with DRAP

  • Tramaking 250 mg Tablets

    • Declared as unregistered and falsified

    • Batch no: TRD379
    • Not registered with DRAP

  • Namadol 225 mg Tablets

    • Declared as spurious, falsified, and unregistered

    • Batch no: TRD2025
    • Laboratory analysis  also confirmed absence of the claimed Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (Tramadol HCl)

Manufacturer Details (as per labeling)

  • M/s Ciba Pharmaceuticals (Pvt.) Ltd.

  • A-371, Nooriabad, Main Super Highway, Karachi

  • Drug Manufacturing Licence (DML): 000825

Regulatory Status

  • None of the above products are registered with DRAP.

  • These products have not been evaluated or approved for:

    • Safety

    • Quality

    • Efficacy

Risk Statement

  • Use of these products poses a serious public-health risk due to:

    • Unknown or inconsistent composition

    • Uncertain strength and quality

    • Illegal manufacturing and marketing

  • Potential health consequences include:

    • Therapeutic failure

    • Poor or uncontrolled pain management

    • Opioid withdrawal symptoms

    • Unexpected toxicity or overdose

    • Respiratory depression

    • Serious adverse drug reactions

Populations at Higher Risk

  • Patients with moderate to severe pain

  • Individuals with chronic pain conditions

  • Post-operative patients

  • Persons misusing or dependent on opioid analgesics

  • Elderly patients

  • Patients with hepatic, renal, or respiratory disorders

DRAP  Recall Alert No: II/S/12-25-123

Action Date: 18 December 2025

Target Audience

  • National Regulatory Field Force

  • Healthcare professionals:

    • Physicians

    • Pharmacists

    • Nurses working in hospitals and clinics

  • General public

Problem / Issue

  • Drugs, Water & Food Testing Laboratory, Government of Gilgit-Baltistan, reported quality testing results.

  • Samples of certain drug products were analyzed and declared substandard.

Therapeutic Goods Affected

  • Glitric Tablets 2.6mg (Prolonged Release)

    • Each tablet contains: Glyceryl Trinitrate 2.6 mg

    • Registration No.: 119607

    • Batch Nos.: 25H261 and 25H262

    • Quality Findings:

      • Batch 25H261 declared substandard based on assay and dissolution test failure

      • Batch 25H262 declared substandard based on assay test failure

    • Manufacturer:

      • M/s Linta Pharmaceuticals

      • Plot #03, Street S-5, National Industrial Zone, Rawat, Islamabad

      • Drug Manufacturing Licence (DML): 000810

  • Betahist 16mg Tablets

    • Each tablet contains: Betahistine Dihydrochloride 16 mg

    • Registration No.: 091595

    • Batch No.: 25H249

    • Quality Findings:

      • Declared substandard due to physical defects, including:

        • Softening of tablets

        • Cracking

        • Rough, orange-peel–like surface texture

        • Tablets easily breaking

        • Tablets turning into powder upon finger pressure

Risk Statement:

  • Identified quality defects in the affected products may lead to therapeutic failure and unpredictable dosing.

  • Glitric 2.6 mg (Glyceryl Trinitrate prolonged-release tablets):

    • Assay and dissolution failures can result in inadequate drug release.

    • Glyceryl Trinitrate has a narrow and sensitive therapeutic window.

    • Subtherapeutic dosing may precipitate:

      • Angina attacks

      • Serious ischemic cardiovascular events

    • Elderly patients and those with ischemic heart disease are at higher risk.

  • Betahist 16 mg (Betahistine tablets):

    • Severe physical instability may compromise dose accuracy and efficacy.

    • Loss of therapeutic effect may occur in patients suffering from:

      • Vertigo

      • Balance and vestibular disorders

Population Most Likely to be Affected

  • Patients with chronic cardiovascular diseases

  • Patients with vestibular and balance disorders

  • Elderly patients

  • Patients with comorbid conditions

Actions Taken

The Regulatory Field Force has been instructed to conduct surveillance and seize the above-mentioned unregistered/falsified products.

Pharmacists, chemists, distributors, and healthcare professionals must urgently inspect their stocks. Details of suppliers of such products should be reported to the Regulatory Field Force (DRAP and Provincial Drug Control Departments) to ensure removal from circulation.

Distributors and pharmacies are advised to be vigilant and report any suspected batch of the product(s) in the supply chain to the DRAP using the online formor by Email at gsms@dra.gov.pk.

Guidance for Healthcare Professionals

 Any adverse events or quality concerns linked to these medicines should be reported to the National or Provincial Pharmacovigilance Centres via the Adverse Event Reporting Form or through the official online portal.

📌Read Also: Working of VigiMobile App for ADRs reporting to Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC)

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Guidance for Consumers

Consumers must avoid these products. If anyone experiences health problems after using them, they should immediately consult a healthcare provider and report the incident to DRAP / the National Pharmacovigilance Centre.

Always purchase therapeutic goods only from licensed pharmacies or authorized outlets. Carefully check the authenticity and condition of products, and consult a pharmacist or healthcare professional in case of doubt.

References :

Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan. (2025, December 18). 122. Rapid alert – Falsified / spurious / unregistered Tramadol tablets. https://www.dra.gov.pk/safety_info/product_recalls/recall_alerts/122-rapid-alert-falsified-spurious-unregistered-tramadol-tablets/ Defense Housing Authority

Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan. (2025, December 18). 123. Recall alert (Class-I) – Drug products (human) substandard – Gilgit Baltistan. https://www.dra.gov.pk/safety_info/product_recalls/recall_alerts/123-recall-alert-class-i-drug-products-human-substandard-gligit-baltistan/

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