Insulin pens recalled

Pharmacists have been told to ensure they do not dispense from 87 batches of insulin pens that could leave patients at risk of hyperglycaemia.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned diabetes patients who use two types of pens manufactured by Novo Nordisk that the insulin cartridge holder in some batches may crack or break if it is exposed to certain chemicals, which include household cleaning products.

This could result in an under-delivery of insulin, which could have serious health implications for users.

The manufacturers have issued a product recall for the batches of NovoPen Echo and NovoPen 5, from wholesalers and pharmacies, and patients are being asked to return pens from the affected batches.

Details of the batches involved are available on the MHRA website.

MHRA director of medical services, John Wilkinson, said: “It is important patients do not stop treatment without contacting their diabetes management team.

“We are asking people using a NovoPen Echo and/or NovoPen 5 from one of the affected batches to contact Novo Nordisk to replace the cartridge holder as some could be damaged or subject to damage in the future.”

Wilkinson said the MHRA continued to encourage people to use its Yellow Card scheme to report any problems with medical devices.

This allows users to report side effects, safety concerns, counterfeit and defective medicines, and medical device adverse incidents.