Medical Product Alert – Falsified OXYCONTIN 80mg
Port of Spain, April 08, 2025: The Ministry of Health (MoH), via its Drug Inspectorate Division advises of the WHO Medical Product Alert of one batch of falsified (contaminated) OXYCONTIN 80mg. OXYCONTIN (oxycodone hydrochloride) is a semi-synthetic opioid indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe pain.
The WHO Alert, stated that the falsified product was detected in the unregulated market in Switzerland and reported to WHO by the genuine manufacturer MUNDIPHARMA. The alert further stated that testing done by the Drug Information Centre of the City of Zurich, Switzerland, determined that the tablets did not contain oxycodone, but a synthetic opioid likely to be a nitazene compound. These substances can be hundreds of times stronger than oxycodone, posing a high overdose risk.
The falsified product can be identified by the following visible discrepancies:
· The placement of the batch and expiry date on the falsified product is incorrect.
· On the falsified product the batch and expiry date are visible on the front side of the blister strip.
· Genuine OXYCONTIN has the batch and expiry date visible on the back of the blister strip.
· On the falsified product the expiry date is on the left and the batch number on the right.
· Genuine OXYCONTIN has the batch number on the left and expiry date on the right.
While the product is not registered for use in Trinidad and Tobago, out of an abundance of caution, the Ministry advises persons who may be in possession of the drug to discontinue use immediately.
Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Office of the Principal Pharmacist, Drug Inspectorate via email at druginspectorate@health.gov.tt or phone at 217-4664 ext. 13401.
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