Blood thinner recalled in France over contamination fears
Health agency says nationwide recall 'precautionary measure'
Patients are advised to exchange affected drugs at a pharmacy
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A batch of a widely prescribed anticoagulant has been recalled in France as a “precautionary measure” following the discovery that it may contain traces of an antipsychotic drug.
The alert concerns a single lot of Rivaroxaban Viatris 20mg manufactured by Viatris Santé, distributed between January 27 and March 25, 2026.
The lot number 8212020, packaged in boxes of 28 film-coated tablets with an expiry date of July 2028, has been removed from pharmacies, healthcare facilities and wholesalers nationwide.
Quality checks identified very low levels of quetiapine, a medication used for psychiatric conditions, in some tablets.
The detected quantity is less than 0.05mg per tablet. For comparison, typical therapeutic doses for adults range from 50mg to 600mg per day.
No adverse events have been reported in connection with the contamination.
Exchange affected drugs
State drug watchdog l’Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé (ANSM) says the recall is “precautionary” and that patients should not stop taking their anticoagulant, but rather exchange affected drugs at a pharmacy.
Pharmacists who dispensed the lot have also been instructed to contact patients to ensure the swap is carried out.
Anyone experiencing unusual drowsiness, dizziness, headache, or dry mouth should seek medical advice promptly.
Rivaroxaban is used to prevent and treat blood clots in veins and arteries, particularly for patients with atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism.
There are no known interactions between Rivaroxaban and quetiapine at the detected levels.
