Published: June 10, 2026
MONROVIA — Liberia’s drug regulator has ordered an immediate recall of a batch of penicillin tablets, warning that a quality defect could trigger life-threatening reactions in patients taking the antibiotic.
The Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority said in a statement Tuesday that the recall covers Batch W241003 of Phenoxymethylpenicillin Tablets BP 500 mg, marketed in Liberia by Nand Pharmaceuticals Inc. The batch was made in October 2024, expires in September 2027, and is sold in orange-and-white blister packs containing 10 strips of 10 tablets each. Patients using it should stop immediately and see a healthcare provider for an alternative, the authority said.
The defect could set off serious allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock, a condition that can cause difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat and lips, and a dangerous drop in blood pressure, the LMHRA said. It also warned of rare but severe skin disorders, including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, which bring extensive blistering and peeling, and of severe gastrointestinal reactions such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and colitis.
The authority told consumers to return the product to pharmacies, clinics or vendors for a refund or safe disposal, to report any adverse reactions, and to flag any unauthorized advertisement, sale or promotion of the recalled batch.
Doctors, pharmacists and nurses were directed to quarantine remaining stock at once and to stop dispensing, administering or selling it. Wholesalers, distributors and pharmacies were ordered to halt all sales, pull the product from downstream outlets, and file stock reconciliation reports with the LMHRA Inspectorate Department.
The regulator said the recall is part of its mandate to keep medicines circulating in Liberia within set standards of quality, safety and efficacy, and urged providers and the public to stay alert and report suspected reactions or illicit sales as it works to clear the batch from the market.
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