Bristol-Myers Squibb Recalls Lots of Coumadin

Bristol-Myers Squibb is recalling eight production lots of its anti-clotting drug Coumadin because the amount of the active ingredient in the drug could change.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) is recalling a total of 144,672 1-milligram tablets of Coumadin, all of which were distributed in the U.S. The recall includes five production lots of Coumadin hospital unit doses and three lots of physician samples. All the tablets were distributed in blisterpacks, no bottled medicine or other doses are involved.

The company said the recall is a precaution, and no side effects have been reported.

BMS said the amount of isopropanol in the tablets could change over time. Isopropanol, or isopropyl alcohol, is used to keep the drug's active ingredient in a crystalline state. The changing levels of isopropanol could increase or reduce the amount of the active ingredient in the tablets.

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