411: Drug Recalls & Consumer Safety
How to make sure your medication has not been recalled, and what to do if it has.
How to make sure your medication has not been recalled, and what to do if it has.
This past summer, major news coverage was dedicated to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recall of a common generic blood pressure medication. With more than a third of our country living with high blood pressure, this was a troubling recall for many Americans. It also raised a great number of questions surrounding drug safety in the wake of the FDA announcement. To answer some of those questions, here is what you should know about consumer drug recalls.
A drug recall can be voluntarily issued by the manufacturer if they discover a problem with their product or issued by the FDA if credible evidence of a problem is found. Regardless of where the recall originates, most drugs are recalled for one of five main reasons:
If you believe you might be taking a medication that has been recalled, it’s important to double-check. The FDA will publish a list of all affected medications; you can compare your own prescription against this list using the following identifiers:
If you can’t find this information on your prescription bottle, call your local pharmacist and they will be able to provide you with the necessary information.
Once you have determined that your prescription medication was recalled, consult with your doctor on the best course of action. Do not stop taking your prescription medication unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Promptly stopping a medication, even one that has been recalled, could endanger your health even more. Talk to your doctor about alternative medications and follow their instructions to safely make the shift from one medication to the other.
As you take your new medication, you should monitor your body closely for any adverse side effects from the new drug. If you experience harmful side effects or wish to report an issue with the quality of your medication, feel free to use the FDA’s MedWatch Voluntary Reporting Form. The FDA relies on these consumer complaints and critical feedback to track faulty or potentially dangerous drugs.
With a century-long legacy, the National Safety Council is a global center for safety expertise. Let's work together to align resources. We look forward to learning about ways we can join efforts to expand safety everywhere!
There are no items in your cart