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Valium Packets Recalled Over Fears Of Product Tampering

All 50-packs of 5 milligram Valium have been recalled.

Australians who take Valium are being urged to return the drug to pharmacies in a national recall, as the drug's manufacturer has found evidence of tampering.

The company, Roche Products, has found that some of the blister packs contained the wrong medications -- including paracetamol codeine tablets, BTC Rosuvastatin 10mg tablets and Apotex-Pantoprazole 40mg tablets.

All 50-packs of Valium 5-milligram tables have been recalled by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

All 5mg Valium packs of 50 tablets have been recalled by the manufacturer, Roche, and the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Rob Banks / Fairfax
All 5mg Valium packs of 50 tablets have been recalled by the manufacturer, Roche, and the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

"If a patient has an affected pack, there is a risk that they will not have adequate supply of their medicine and could take the incorrect medicine, which could have serious health consequences," the TGA said in a statement.

The company, Roche, does not believe the tampering is widespread and is contained to one unit, but said that as a precaution all 50 packs were being recalled.

The company's managing director, Svend Peterson, said he was uncertain how many packs had been affected, "but it's important that the packets are returned and that patients seek medical advice," he said.

"We are uncertain as to when this issue started, however we are taking every measure possible to ensure patient safety."

Diazepam, the active ingredient of Valium, is used to treat a range of ailments including anxiety, insomnia, seizures and alcohol withdrawal.

Around 30,000 packets of Valium are sold across Australia each month.

NSW Police have confirmed they are investigating the theft of an unspecified quantity of Valium "over a period of time" at a business premises in Rydalmere in western Sydney.

It is believed a single employee within the organisation's supply chain may have been stealing the medicine and swapping in other drugs to conceal the crime.

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