Another drug alarm in U.S.

Press, 28 October 1982, Page 8

Another drug alarm in U.S.

NZPA-Reuter Denver Colorado

Colorado stores have been urged to move e.xtra-strength Excedrin capsules from their shelves after a man became critically ill from taking a capsule of the pain reliever laced with toxic mercuric chloride.

After the poisoning early this week, State health officials advised residents to stop taking Excedrin, a pain reliever, and return what they have to the stores.

Mercuric chloride is used in mercury batteries, fireworks and dyes.

Larry Gomez, the district director in Denver for the United States Food and Drug Administration, said that agents were checking store shelves for other tainted capsules. The Excedrin incident is the latest in a rash of product taintings round the

United States since seven people died in Chicago late last month after taking cyan-ide-laced capsules of extrastrength Tylenol, also a pain reliever.

A woman, aged 20, had also taken Excedrin capsules and became ill.