You are in good company. Over the summer of 2018, there was a higher number of prescription drug recalls than usual. The recalls included valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide, both of which affected patients with high blood pressure. Those recalls raised questions for many people about the safety of the U.S. prescription drug supply.
The good news is that generally speaking, the U.S. has a very safe supply of prescription drug. There are many reasons drugs can be recalled, and not all are because of health issues. Many recalled occur due to mislabeling or defective or misleading packaging. Other recalls are due to a quality issue with the drug, drug contamination, or in some cases because the drug threatens patients’ health.
If you learn that a drug that you are taking has been recalled, do not make any sudden decisions. In many cases, only a small batch of that particular drug is recalled, and it only affects a small percentage of patients. If your drug is recalled, call your pharmacy to find out if the recall affects you. If it does, do not stop taking the medication until you have spoke with your doctor. Many medications are so critical that even if they are recalled, the patient should continue taking the drug. However, if you discover that your over-the-counter drug has been recalled, you should stop taking it and return it to the store for a replacement or a refund.
If you believe that you have been harmed by a prescription drug in Los Angeles, you should speak with an attorney. You may have a legal right to compensation. Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles prescription drug recall attorney at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.