Two strips in one box, two different strengths: the blood pressure batch recalled today
What happened
On 29 October 2026, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recalled one batch of a common blood pressure tablet. The tablet is lercanidipine hydrochloride 10mg, made by Accord-UK Ltd. The recall covers a single batch: - Batch number: M2510877 - Expiry date: 11/2028 - Pack size: 28 tablets - First sent out: 24 June 2026 The reason is a packaging mix-up. Accord received one complaint about a sealed carton of 10mg tablets. Inside, there were two blister strips. One held the correct 10mg tablets. The other held 20mg tablets, from a different batch (M2510831). So the box said 10mg, but part of what was inside was double that strength. The alert reference is EL(26)A/45. It is a Class 2 medicines recall, and it is being carried out at pharmacy and wholesaler level. That is an important detail. It means the MHRA has asked pharmacies and suppliers to pull the batch from their shelves. It has not asked every patient to return their tablets. The MHRA says the risk is low. Only one carton has been reported so far. The 10mg and 20mg tablets are different colours, so a wrong strip is not hard to spot. And 20mg is a normal, licensed dose of this medicine anyway, which is the main reason the recall stops at the pharmacy counter. A second recall was published the same day, for a medicine called Mynzepli (aflibercept) 40mg/mL in pre-filled syringes, made by Advanz Pharma. That one is an eye injection given in hospital by trained staff, and the notice is precautionary: the finger grip on some syringes may vary slightly in size. Its alert says plainly that "no further action is required by patients".
Why this matters
Lercanidipine is not a medicine people take for a few days. The NHS says it is usually taken long term, once a day, to bring down high blood pressure. High blood pressure rarely makes you feel ill. That is exactly why it is treated. Lowering it reduces the risk of serious problems later, including stroke and heart failure. So the people holding these packs are people whose doctors decided they needed steady, daily protection. That is what makes a strength mix-up worth knowing about, even a rare one. If you were prescribed 10mg and took 20mg by mistake for around two weeks, the MHRA says what you would most likely notice is the medicine working too strongly. Your blood pressure could drop further than intended. That can bring on dizziness, headache, flushing, a pounding heartbeat, or feeling faint. Those are not new or mysterious effects. They are the known effects of this medicine, turned up. But a dizzy spell matters more for some people than others. If you are older, live alone, or are unsteady on your feet, a fall is a real risk. There is a second reason this is worth a moment of your time. Many people take a tablet from a box every morning without ever reading the strip inside. The box is the thing we trust. This recall is a rare reminder that the strip is worth a glance too, especially when a pack is new.
What the evidence actually says
It is worth being precise here, because recall notices are easy to over-read in both directions. What the MHRA has confirmed: - One complaint has been received "to date". Not a pattern, so far. - The defect is "currently anticipated to be very low" in how often it happens. - The recall is deliberately not at patient level. The notice says this is because "20 mg remains within the authorised therapeutic dose range for routine use of this product." - The expected harm, if someone did take the wrong strip for about a fortnight, is "an exaggerated pharmacological effect; particularly reduction in blood pressure". What the MHRA has not said: - It has not said anyone has been harmed. - It has not said the tablets are contaminated, faulty or of poor quality. Both strengths are the correct medicine, properly made. They were simply packed together in error. - It has not told patients to stop taking lercanidipine. That last point deserves its own line. Stopping a blood pressure medicine on your own is its own risk. The NHS advice on lercanidipine is to "keep taking your medicine unless you're advised to stop". If your strips say 10mg, the official advice is that you need do nothing and can carry on as normal. Only one batch is affected. Lercanidipine made by other companies is not part of this recall, and neither are other Accord batches. Most people checking their pack today will find a batch number that does not match, and that is the end of it.
Qurexa perspective
At Qurexa, we deliver prescriptions to people across Lincolnshire and support people in taking their medicines as prescribed. Recalls like this one sit right in the middle of that work, so a few honest words about it. A recall at pharmacy and wholesaler level is handled by pharmacy teams, not by patients. The batch is quarantined and sent back. For almost everyone, nothing is asked of them at all. But delivery does not change what is inside the box. Whether your medicines come to your door or you collect them yourself, the same advice applies: when a new pack arrives, look at the strip, not just the carton. That is a good habit in general, not only this week. If you are not sure what you are looking at, your pharmacy is the right first call, and it is a free one. Pharmacy teams read these notices as part of their job, and can tell you in a minute whether your pack is affected. You should not feel awkward asking.
Practical advice
If you take lercanidipine 10mg tablets, here is what to do. **1. Find the batch number.** It is printed on the outside of the carton, usually near the expiry date. You are looking for M2510877 with an expiry of 11/2028, in a pack of 28, made by Accord-UK. **2. If your batch number is different,** this recall does not affect your pack. Carry on as normal. **3. If it does match, open the carton and read the blister strips.** Each strip is labelled with the strength. - If the strips say 10mg, you do not need to do anything. The MHRA says you may continue to take them. - If any strip says 20mg, do not take those tablets. Contact your pharmacy. **4. If you think you have already taken 20mg tablets by mistake** and you feel dizzy, have a headache, feel flushed, or notice your heart pounding, seek medical advice straight away. Take the leaflet from the pack and any tablets you have left with you to your pharmacy or GP practice. **5. Do not stop taking your blood pressure medicine on your own.** If a strip is wrong, your pharmacy can sort out the right replacement. Speak to them before you miss doses. **6. If you are unsure about anything,** ask your pharmacist. That is what the MHRA notice itself advises. You can also report any suspected side effect from any medicine through the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme. It is open to patients and carers, not just health professionals, and it is one of the main ways problems like this one come to light in the first place. One more thing, worth knowing generally. The NHS advises taking lercanidipine at the same time each day, at least 15 minutes before a meal, ideally before your first meal of the day. If you miss a dose, skip it. Do not take two to catch up.
What to know
The MHRA has recalled one batch of Accord-UK lercanidipine 10mg tablets, batch M2510877, expiry 11/2028, after a single carton was found to contain a strip of 20mg tablets. The recall is at pharmacy and wholesaler level, the regulator describes the risk as low, and nobody is being asked to stop taking their blood pressure medicine. If you have a matching pack, check the strips inside. If they say 10mg, carry on. If one says 20mg, do not take it and contact your pharmacy. If you think you have taken the wrong strength and feel dizzy, flushed, headachy or notice palpitations, get medical advice now rather than waiting. A second recall published the same day, for Mynzepli pre-filled syringes used for eye injections in hospital, needs no action from patients. For anything you are unsure about, your pharmacist is the quickest reliable answer. Sources: MHRA (GOV.UK), "Class 2 Medicines Recall: Accord-UK Ltd, Lercanidipine Hydrochloride 10mg Film-Coated Tablets, EL(26)A/45", 29 October 2026 — https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-2-medicines-recall-accord-uk-ltd-lercanidipine-hydrochloride-10mg-film-coated-tablets-el-26-a-slash-45 | MHRA (GOV.UK), "Class 2 Medicines Recall: Advanz Pharma Limited, Mynzepli 40 mg/mL solution for injection in pre-filled syringe, EL(26)A/44", 29 October 2026 — https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-2-medicines-recall-advanz-pharma-limited-mynzepli-40-mg-slash-ml-solution-for-injection-in-pre-filled-syringe-el-26-a-slash-44 | NHS, "Lercanidipine", nhs.uk — https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/lercanidipine/ This article is for general information and does not replace advice from a doctor, pharmacist or other qualified healthcare professional. Do not start, stop or change a prescribed medicine based on this article. If you feel unwell after taking any medicine, seek medical advice straight away.
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