At Ferrer Poirot Feller , it’s our job to help people harmed by defective and recalled medications get the compensation they deserve. But our years of experience has taught us that many patients aren’t aware that their medications have been recalled until it’s too late. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for drug recalls to be underreported, especially if the recalled medications are over-the-counter, considered dietary supplements, or aren’t big sellers with wide name recognition.
Your best health advocate is you. While your doctor knows about your health problems and any medications you’re taking, he or she may not always be up to date on the latest drug recalls. In fact, some doctors only become aware of them when they hit the news—even though the drugs have been recalled for weeks or months.
Thankfully, you can stay up to date on drug recalls in a few different ways:
- Check the FDA’s website—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration website has a database of recalled drugs, supplements, and over-the-counter products. This database shows information such as recall date, drug name, manufacturer name, and the reason for the recall. Clicking on each recalled medication shows additional information.
- Ask your pharmacist—Pharmacists are often more up to date on drug recalls than doctors. In addition to asking your pharmacist directly, you also may find drug recall information posted in the pharmacy itself. If you’re unclear whether your medication is recalled, especially if only certain lots of a drug were recalled, ask your pharmacist.
Regardless of drug recall status, you should never stop taking a medication without asking your doctor. Not all recalls threaten patients’ health, and stopping or changing medications without supervision can result in serious health problems.
But if you or someone you love was harmed by a dangerous medication, our drug injury lawyers want to help. Contact us today for a free consultation.