Novartis said it's voluntarily recalling some over-the-counter products in the U.S., including its Excedrin headache pills and NoDoz medication, because they may contain broken or stray tablets from other products.

Novartis has temporarily suspended operations at the Lincoln, Neb., plant where the products were made, the company said in a statement Sunday. The recall also affects its Bufferin and Gas-X Prevention brands.

The move comes after consumer complaints "of chipped and broken pills and inconsistent bottle packaging line clearance practices possibly resulting in mixed tablets," the statement said. The over-the-counter medications were distributed throughout the United States.

Spokeswoman Julie Masow said she didn't immediately have a number for the amount of tablets and gel caps involved in the recall. She said there hadn't been any reports of overdoses or allergic reactions from the stray material or broken and chipped medication.

Novartis said the recall and improvement work at the Lincoln plant will result in a fourth-quarter charge of $120 million. The facility's products account for less than 2 percent of Novartis Group sales, the company said. The drugmaker had sales of $50.6 billion in 2010.

Basel, Switzerland-based Novartis said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is aware of the recall.

Novartis said it was recalling all lots of bottles contain- ing Excedrin and NoDoz with expiration dates of Dec. 20, 2014, or earlier as well as Bufferin and Gas-X Prevention with throw- out dates of Dec. 20, 2013 or sooner.