Centrum Pharmacy continuously monitors Health Canada advisories, recalls, and safety notices as part of our medication safety and quality assurance program. When alerts are issued, our team immediately reviews affected products, lot numbers, and suppliers to determine whether any of our patients could be impacted.
Health Canada has announced a nationwide recall involving specific lots of MAR-Amlodipine 5 mg tablets due to a packaging error by one manufacturer. Some bottles may contain the wrong medication.
What Is the Issue?
MAR-Amlodipine is commonly prescribed to treat:
- High blood pressure
- Angina (chest pain)
According to Health Canada, certain bottles from the affected lots may contain midodrine 2.5 mg tablets instead — a medication used to treat low blood pressure, not high blood pressure.
This type of mix-up can be clinically significant and requires immediate attention if it occurs.
Tablet Identification
Health Canada advises patients to check tablets carefully:
Correct MAR-Amlodipine 5 mg tablets:
- Eight-sided shape
- White to off-white
- Marked with “210” and “5”
Incorrect tablets (Midodrine 2.5 mg):
- Round shape
- Marked with “M2”
If your tablets do not match the correct description, do not take them and contact your pharmacy right away.
Potential Risks if the Wrong Medication Is Taken
For patients being treated for high blood pressure, taking midodrine instead could lead to:
- Dangerous increases in blood pressure
- Dizziness or fainting
- Slow heartbeat
- Possible organ complications in severe cases
Seek urgent medical care if symptoms are severe — including chest pain, severe headache, speech difficulty, or weakness on one side of the body.
Important Reassurance for Centrum Pharmacy Patients
After immediately reviewing the recall notice and affected lot numbers:
Centrum Pharmacy has NOT dispensed this medication from the affected supplier lots.
No patients in our dispensing records are impacted by this recall.
Our Medication Safety Protocol
Centrum Pharmacy operates under a robust medication safety framework that includes:
- Continuous monitoring of Health Canada recalls and warnings
- Lot-level supplier tracking
- Rapid internal audits when alerts are issued
- Direct patient notification protocols if any dispensed medication is affected
- Immediate pharmacist-led clinical follow-up and replacement coordination when required
This is part of our Complete, Comprehensive, Caring, and Connected Care (the 4 C’s) model.
Because of our integration with Orleans Family Health Clinic and our ongoing physician recruitment efforts, our pharmacists can rapidly coordinate with primary care providers when medication issues arise — ensuring patients are not left navigating safety concerns alone.
What You Should Do
If you take MAR-Amlodipine or any blood pressure medication:
- Always check your tablets if a recall is announced
- Contact your pharmacist with any questions
- Never stop or change blood pressure medication without professional guidance
If you are a Centrum Pharmacy patient and have concerns, speak with our pharmacist team — we will review your medication and provide immediate guidance.
Your safety is always our first priority.
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Disclaimer: The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information does not substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment. Please do not initiate, modify, or discontinue any treatment, medication, or supplement solely based on this information. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider first. Full Disclaimer.
