GIF: Painkiller Discontinued. Get Rid of It Immediately

Here you will find all the materials from the 21st Health Market Forum

• The Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate decided to suspend and withdraw from sale one batch of the drug Vendal retard
• Vendal retard is a very strong painkiller containing a substance from the opioid group, used, among others, in oncology patients.
• The withdrawn batch of drugs was found to contain exceeded permissible limits for some related substances.

Vendal Retard is a very strong painkiller containing morphine hydrochloride , a substance from the opioid group. It is used to treat severe and very severe pain, particularly in cancer patients when weaker medications prove ineffective.

The drug is available in the form of extended-release tablets, which maintain effective pain relief for approximately 12 hours. The drug is available by prescription only and should be used as directed by a physician due to the risk of addiction and serious side effects.

GIF withdrew a batch of the drug

In its decision of November 7, 2025, GIF informs about the withdrawal of Vendal retard (Morphini hydrochloridum) 10 mg, prolonged-release film-coated tablets, in a pack of 30 tablets, batch number E04560 , with an expiry date of November 2025.

The decision was issued based on the results of tests conducted by the National Institute of Medicines, which revealed non-compliance with quality requirements . A sample from the recalled batch was found to contain levels of certain related substances (including morphinone and an unknown contaminant) that exceeded acceptable standards.

According to the Inspectorate, such a quality defect could affect the effectiveness and safety of the drug, and therefore "a real threat to human health cannot be ruled out." The decision is immediately enforceable, and further marketing of the product is prohibited.

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