Drug Recall

What is a drug recall?
A drug recall is when a medication or an over-the-counter product is removed from the market. A drug can be voluntarily recalled by the drug company and the FDA, or the FDA can require a recall. The FDA makes sure that recalls are handled correctly to safely stop the drug from being sold.

Why are drugs recalled?
A drug may be recalled for many reasons, like safety concerns, mislabeling, or because it was poorly produced by the company.

What should you do if a drug you’re taking is recalled?
Do not stop taking your medication until you speak to your doctor. In some cases, stopping a medication suddenly can cause a return of your symptoms that can be worse than before. In other cases, stopping a medication suddenly can be life-threatening. Follow these steps:

• Contact your doctor to discuss your options.
• Contact your pharmacy to discuss possible substitutes. For example, the pharmacist may be able to get the same medication from a different drug company. If not, they can contact your doctor to switch to another drug.
• Visit the FDA website¹ to learn more and to sign up to receive alerts on drug recalls.