Sandoz Canada, already at the centre of a national drug shortage, is voluntarily recalling 57,000 vials of injectable morphine after a box was found to contain another drug mixed in with the painkiller.
Health Canada issued an advisory about the recall early Thursday evening.
"The recall is in light of a report from a Toronto hospital that found one box labelled as morphine ampoules (vials) which incorrectly contained ampoules of isoproterenol," the agency said in a press release.
Sandoz supplies the bulk of Canada's injectable drugs, and morphine is used as a painkiller for many cancer patients.
Dr. Robert Cushman, head of Health Canada's biologic and genetic therapies directorate, said there have been no reports of harm to patients as a result of the drug mix-up.
"We're just talking about a single package that to date has been identified. We haven't had a report of any others," Cushman told The Canadian Press.
Canada's Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said the government has asked Sandoz to inspect all of its packages to ensure that they contain the right drugs.
Packages that pass the inspection will be clearly marked as ready to go back on the market, Health Canada said.
Aglukkaq said there will be a review of the mix-up to find out exactly how it happened.
Sandoz has already triggered a drug shortage because it was forced to close its plant in Boucherville, Que., due to quality control issues.
Sandoz said it will voluntarily recall "a portion of one lot of 2mg/mL (1mL) Morphine Sulfate Injection (Lot CC2824 exp. 2014-12) from the Canadian market. The recall applies to all products that has been distributed to healthcare providers," according to Health Canada.
