The over-the-counter flu medicine Theraflu Cold & Extra (Apple and Cinnamon), registered under the manufacture series F1855, has been withdrawn from pharmacies following complaints from consumers.

The Agency of Medicines and Medical Equipment says it has been found that the powder packets contain lower amounts of active ingredients than what is stated on the packaging and in the instructions, so while still being safe to take, the medicine has a reduced effectiveness.

The Agency ordered that all Theraflu varieties registered in the State Medicines Nomenclature must be checked, and that the manufacturer Novartis Consumer Health must be transferred from the list of medicines subject to selective verification to the list of medicines subject to series-by-series verification.

The representatives of the manufacturer were ordered to take all the measures to pull the F1855-series medicine from drugstores by December 22.