The makers of Excedrin, NoDoz, Bufferin and Gas-X Prevention have issued a voluntary recall of select bottle packaging configurations of those products, because they might include stray tablets from other products or broken or chipped tablets.

Novartis Consumer Health issued the recall, announced today with the help of the Food and Drug Administration. Excedrin and NoDoz products with expiration dates of December 20, 2014 or earlier, and Bufferin and Gas-X that have expiration dates of December 20, 2013, are affected by the recall.

The company’s statement says they’re taking action as a precautionary measure, and they’ve voluntarily suspended operations and shipments to ensure that consumers are less likely to purchase affected products.

Users of these products would probably not want to find out they’re actually ingesting Excedrin instead of Gas-X, or pop a NoDoz or two when trying to to treat a headache. Potential effects of taking the wrong product could result in “overdose, interaction with other medications a consumer may be taking, or an allergic reaction if the consumer is allergic to the unintended ingredient.”

So far, Novartis says they aren’t aware of any problems related to the recall being reported.

If you identify any of the products being recalled in your home, stop using them immediately and contact the Novartis Consumer Relationship Center at 1-888-477-2403 (available Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time) for information on how to return the affected products and receive a full refund. For more detailed information, consumers should visit our website at www.novartisOTC.com.

Novartis Consumer Health Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall Of Certain Over-The-Counter Products Due to Potential Presence of Foreign Tablets or Chipped or Broken Tablets or Gelcaps [FDA]

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