Drugmaker Merck & Co. is recalling all lots of its combination cholesterol drug in the United States due to packaging defects, the Associated Press reported.

Merck announced on Tuesday that it is withdrawing every batch of Liptruzet distributed since the drug was introduced in May 2013, due to packaging defects that could affect its performance, the company said in a statement.

The company said some of the foil pouches may allow in air and moisture, which could potentially decrease the effectiveness or change the characteristics of the product. The recall is not due to any reports of patients being harmed, the AP reported.

"The likelihood of the packaging defects decreasing the effectiveness of LIPTRUZET on a patient's lipid profile or negatively impacting the safety of the product is remote," Merck said.

A Merck spokeswoman told the AP that the Liptruzet packages were produced by a U.S. manufacturer under contract with Merck.

The voluntary recall would wipe out the entire stock of the drug available in the U.S. The recall does not affect any other products manufactured by Merck.

The cholesterol drug is composed of Merck's own Zetia, which decreases the amount of cholesterol absorbed from food, and atorvastatin, the generic version of Lipitor. In Liptruzet the two drugs work in complementary ways to lower levels of bad cholesterol, a strategy that could prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Merck will continue to sell Zetia, and several companies sell inexpensive atorvastatin.

The drugmaker said it is "committed to resupplying LIPTRUZET as soon as possible."

The New Jersey-based company said the drug is not being recalled from patients or pharmacies and patients can continue taking Liptruzet in their possession as prescribed by their health care provider.