Why has your medication been recalled?

Tasha Matsumoto — It has happened to many of us: we head to the store to pick up a bottle of our go-to OTC remedy only to find that it's been recalled. For many of us, prescription medication that we've come to depend on is “not currently available.” While you may have been told that your medication was recalled, were you told why? It's not uncommon for members of the general public to remain ignorant when it comes to the reasons behind the recalls. Here are factors that play into these drug recalls:

1. Health Risk

If your medication, whether prescription or OTC, is deemed to be a health risk, it will be pulled from the shelves immediately. You may remember that in the year 2000, drugs containing PPA, or phenylpropanolamine, were removed from the market. The drugs were pulled because PPA was found to increase the risk for hemorrhagic stroke. Another popular drug, Meridia, was pulled in 2010 because it was found to increase the risk of both heart attack and stroke.

2. Contamination

Whether purposeful or accidental, medications can be contaminated. When this is the case, they are taken out of the hands of the public. One of the most famous cases of intentional contamination occurred in 1982, when a person laced Tylenol capsules with cyanide in Chicago proper and surrounding areas. This act, considered to be one of terrorism, spurred tamper-proof bottles.

3. Poor Packaging

There are certain medications that come with dosing tools, and all medications come with explicit instructions for their use. When these dosing tools are marked incorrectly or included instructions are not clear, medications are recalled. You may think that this is an unnecessary step; after all, you know how to take the medication that you've been taking for years. While packaging mistakes may not present harm to you, it could present a very real threat for someone taking the medication for the first time.

4. Wrong Product

Most medications are manufactured in factories and in great quantities, like many other products available in America. When the product placed inside of the bottle is not what it's labeled to be, the product will be recalled. While there are many quality control measures in place within the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, mistakes do happen. When these mistakes occur, it is in the interest of the public good to pull the medication from the shelves until the mistake is corrected.

5. Manufacturing Mistakes

Drugs are made very carefully, with measured ingredients. Medications must maintain a level of purity, potency, and quality. When something goes awry in the manufacturing process and quality cannot be guaranteed, manufacturers often voluntarily stop production and recall drugs that have already been released.

If you find that one of the medications you rely on has been recalled, be sure to ask why. Recalls will include lot numbers and dates of manufacture; you may need to safely dispose of any of these medications that are currently taking up place in your cabinet. If you have any question about a recall, be sure to speak with your physician or pharmacist. A medical professional can give you the information that you need to ensure your health and safety.



About the Author

Tasha Matsumoto is writer on health and pharmacology.