Recalls of Defective and Dangerous Drugs are Frequent and Ongoing
There are three different ways in which a recall can occur: a voluntary recall initiated by the drug company; a voluntary recall at the request of the FDA; or a mandatory recall required by the FDA.
Drug recalls are classified into one of three classes according to the level of danger posed by the defective drug. Drug recalls are classified as follows:
- Class I recall – a reasonable probability that use or exposure will cause serious illness, injury or death
- Class II recall – drug may cause temporary or reversible adverse effects, or there is a remote chance of serious adverse effects
- Class III recall – use or exposure is not likely to cause adverse effects
Drugs are constantly being recalled or withdrawn from the market, and sites like www.Recalls.gov or the FDA can help you stay on top of the latest recalls. The following are just some of the drugs which have been recalled so far this year. The recalls on this list are generally Class I recalls, the most serious in nature:
January 10 – Mobius Therapeutics: LLC, Mitosol® 0.2 mg/vial
January 17 – Advance Pharmaceutical: one lot of Ferrous Sulfate Tablets, 325 mg
February 15 – Gilead: one lot of Vistide® (Cidofovir)
February 23 – Affymax and Takeda: all lots of Omontys® (peginesatide)
March 16 – Medprep Consulting inc.: all lots of Magnesium Sulfate 2gm in Dextrose 5% in water, 50ml
March 17 – Medprep Consulting Inc.: all lots of all compounded products
March 18 – Clinical Specialties: Avastin Unit Dose Syringes
March 20 – Clinical Specialties Compounding Pharmacy: all lots of sterile products
March 26 – Pallimed Solutions, Inc.: all sterile compounded products
March 29, Hospira: one lot of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection
April 5, Green Valley Drugs: all lots of all sterile products
April 15, NuVision Pharmacy: all lots of all lyophilized products
April 15, ApothéCure, Inc.: all lots of all sterile products
April 17, Balanced Solutions Compounding pharmacy: LLC, all sterile compounded products
April 22, Nora Apothecary & Alternative Therapies: all sterile compounded products
April 26 – Hospira: 1 lot of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP 100 ML
April 26 – 15 lots of Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection, USP 40.5 grams
May 6 – The Compounding Shop, LLC: sterile compounded products
May 10 – 21 more lots of Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection, USP 40.5 grams
May 15 – Pentec Health: certain compounded prescription therapies for renal patients
It is important to know the class of recall associated with a drug to know how your health may have been affected by the defective medication. If you experienced adverse effects associated with a known dangerous drug, or if you feel you may have been harmed after taking medication, talk to your doctor about your symptoms and contact New York personal injury attorney Leandros A. Vrionedes for further advice to make sure you are properly taken care of.
