September 09, 2022 09:08 AM UTC

What Are the Most Common Reasons for a Drug Recall?

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• by: Phoner

If you suffer an injury or illness, your doctor may prescribe a medication to help with the recovery process. You assume that the drug company has done a great job manufacturing a safe and effective medication, but after a drug is released, there is a chance that it might be recalled. If there is a drug recall issued, you need to follow the instructions carefully. What are some of the most common reasons why a drug might get recalled? Make sure you pay attention to the news, listen to the instructions of your doctor, and familiarize yourself with the Elmiron recall.

Undiscovered Safety Issue

Without a doubt, one of the most common reasons why a medication might get recalled is that there is a serious safety issue that was not discovered before the medication reached the open market. For example, there might be side effects that were missed during clinical trials. Sometimes, the study population is not large enough to review all side effects, and the drug company may feel like there is a serious side effect emerging in the population that requires further investigation. 

A Mislabeled Drug

Another common reason why a drug might be recalled is that it is mislabeled. Typically, this is not an issue that impacts every batch of that medication on the market, but there might be a labeling issue with a specific lot. You need to take a look at the label on your medication to figure out what lot it belongs to. If it has been impacted by a labeling issue, you may be required to return the medication to the pharmacy. Then, your doctor can work with you to make sure you have a suitable replacement. 

Contamination of Some Sort

There are even situations where a drug might get recalled because it has been contaminated in some way. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to make sure that all medications are manufactured properly. For example, there might be situations where fragments of metal, glass, wood chips, or incorrect ingredients are included in the manufacturing process. These can pose a serious safety risk to people who take that medication, which is why it might be recalled. You need to understand exactly what the contaminant is because it could lead to potential complications and side effects. This could be something that your doctor can help you with. 

Inconsistent Potency

Finally, a medication might also get recalled because there is an inconsistency in its strength or potency. There are plenty of medications that are manufactured in multiple doses to make it easier for people to take the dose they require. For example, if you head to the local pharmacy, you will see that Tylenol is manufactured in a variety of dosages. You expect that the medicine you are taking has the dose listed on the package, but what happens if every pill in the package is a different dose? This means that there is an inconsistent potency, so the medication could get recalled. 

Reach Out to an Expert Who Can Help You

In the end, there are plenty of reasons why a drug might get recalled. You might be nervous that you will miss a recall announcement, and that is why you should keep in touch with your doctor. If your medication gets recalled, you may need to reach out to your doctor for a replacement option. Then, if you believe you have been harmed by the medication, you should reach out to a legal professional who can review your case and see if you are entitled to compensation.