Urgent warning to check headache medication for ‘hypnotic sedative’ ingredient

Australians are being urged to check their medicine cupboards for headache medication that contains a banned “hypnotic, sedative” ingredient.

Australians are being urged to check their medicine cupboards for headache medication that contains a banned “hypnotic, sedative” ingredient.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued a warning for consumers who may have purchased any Eve-branded products that contain apronal (allylisopropylacetylurea).

Apronal poses a “significant” health risk and is an ingredient banned from most countries in the world.

The ingredient can also be known as ACE, apronalide or (2-Isopropyl-4-pentenoyl) urea.

Apronal is known to be a hypnotic sedative withdrawn from clinical use across Australia due to its dangerous side effects.

Apronal is a hypnotic sedative found in Eve tablets to treat headaches. Picture: Supplied

It is listed as a schedule 10 poison, meaning it is dangerous enough to prohibit sale, supply and use.

The TGA said apronal has been found in a range of imported Eve-branded products, including Eve quick for headache, Eve quick for headache DX, Eve A and Eve A EX.

For consumers who may be concerned they have ingested affected medications, the TGA has advised to stop taking them immediately and take any leftover tablets to a pharmacy for safe disposal.