Common Questions And Answers About Drug Recalls

The advantages of modern medicine are clear to see, with today's drugs and medications able to cure all kinds of illnesses and soothe a vast array of symptoms. Thanks to the advancements of recent medical research and development, it's now possible to find a treatment for all kinds of common ailments, from headaches and tooth pain to heartburn and indigestion.

Through the course of our lives, we rely on and make use of various pills and medicines to help us deal with these health issues and make the most of our days, comforted by the knowledge that every commercially available medication on store shelves or provided by prescription has undergone rigorous testing and quality control.

While it's true that new drugs need to be carefully controlled and tested repeatedly to check for any adverse side effects or risky ingredients, and the vast majority of medications are perfectly safe to use in moderation, every now and then, reports arise of drugs having to be recalled due to side effects or risks that hadn't previously been identified.

One of the most famous examples of a drug recall is Zantac, which had to be removed from pharmacy shelves after it was discovered to contain a probable carcinogen called NDMA. The product has now been suspended from sale across the US, the EU, and other parts of the world too, but how do drug recalls occur in the first place and why do they happen? Read on for answers to these and more common questions.

What Is A Drug Recall?

A drug recall occurs when a drug of some kind - it may be prescription or over the counter - has to be taken off store and pharmacy shelves and suspended from sale or prescription to the public. The FDA is responsible for handling drug recalls and may cite a range of reasons for ordering that a drug be recalled. In some cases, drug manufacturers will make the decision to remove a drug from sale themselves, but other times, the FDA will have to intervene.

Why Do Drug Recalls Occur?

So why do drug recalls have to happen in the first place, especially if drugs undergo such tough tests before being released for public consumption? Well, there are various possible reasons behind a drug recall, and the exact circumstances can vary from case to case. It's not always the case that a drug is suddenly found to be dangerous or poisonous; in some cases, it might just be a packaging error that leads to a recall. Here are some common recall causes:

• Dangerous Drugs - This is the most worrying kind of drug recall. In some cases, like with Zantac, for example, drugs need to be recalled due to the fact that they are found to pose a risk to human health. A famous example of this would be Accutane, which was used by millions of people for treating acne, but later had to be recalled as it was found to cause inflammatory bowel disease and suicidal tendencies in some users, as well as issues with fetal development in pregnant women.

• Packaging Problems - There are some drug recall situations that are far less dangerous or worrisome. For instance, in some cases, a drug may be removed from sale due to the fact that the instructions for use aren't completely clear or the packaging has a printing error that makes it hard for the user to find or read key information. There have even been cases where products were recalled because of the design and colors of their packaging.

• Not As Advertised - There are also cases where drugs may be recalled as they actually do not work as advertised and don't offer the benefits the manufacturers claim. If you take a pill expecting it to cure your toothache, but it has no such effect, for example, you could make a case that the pill has been falsely advertised and is ineffective.

What To Do When Drugs Get Recalled?

Many people aren't quite sure what to do when a drug they've been taking gets recalled, and many people can start to panic or worry about the reasons behind the recall and possible health risks they might have incurred. Here are some key tips to follow in this situation:

• Contact Your Doctor - Usually, the first thing to do when you hear about a drug recall is to get in touch with your doctor for an expert opinion. This is especially true when it comes to prescription medicines, as you may still need to take them for a little longer and gradually switch to an alternative, so you shouldn't necessarily stop taking the medicine altogether without first getting a medical opinion and some clarity on the matter.

• Find Out More - As well as speaking with your doctor, you can also take it upon yourself to learn more about the reasons behind the recall. The official FDA drug recalls webpage lists all recalls and goes into detail on the reasons behind each one. You might find that your drug has been recalled due to a simple misprint on the box, so there's not necessarily a reason to worry about your health.

• Spread the Word - It's also recommended to spread the word about drug recalls and let other people know, including friends, family, and colleagues you know who might be taking the same medication or could know people who are. The more people know about these recalls, the less likely they'll be to suffer any adverse side effects that might be present.

Conclusion

Finding out that a drug you've been taking has been recalled can be quite a stressful experience, but it's important to note that, in a lot of cases, drugs can be recalled for relatively minor reasons and, in most cases, the drugs you keep in your home medicine cabinet have been tested extensively before being approved for use. With that said, if a recall does happen, make sure you keep the above tips in mind and react the right way.