Pharmaceuticals and other medical treatments are trusted by patients and regulators in part because they are assumed to be consistent from batch to batch. Although the medications may be manufactured by different companies in different factories under differing conditions, it is expected that each unit of a prescribed or nonprescribed medication contains what is listed on the packaging, no more and no less. The manufacturer of a commonly used medication in treating type-2 diabetes has recalled thousands of pills because a known carcinogen was found in certain batches of the medication manufactured over a six-month period.
According to a press release supplied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Viona Pharmaceuticals, a generic manufacturer of the type-2 diabetes medication Metformin, has agreed to recall 23 lots of the drug. During a quality control test, the manufacturer learned that some of the drugs tested contained unacceptable levels of NDMA (N-Nitrosodimethylamine), which is a substance that is known to experts to cause cancer in larger amounts. Based on these findings, Viona Pharmaceuticals has agreed to recall the affected lots. The recalled lots of Metformin have expiration dates between June 2022 and January 2023.
What Should I do if I have Expired Metformin?
Patients who have been prescribed Metformin that expires within the above-noted date range should reach out to their medical provider to determine if their batch is part of the recall, and to obtain replacement medication if needed. The press release makes it clear that patients with recalled medication should continue to take the pills they have until replacement medication is delivered. This is important because a patient’s failure to take their medication because of the recall could result in more serious consequences by aggravating their illness. Not taking medication as prescribed can also impact the success of your personal injury claim, should you decide to bring one.
Although the pharmaceutical company in this case discovered their mistake and voluntarily agreed to recall the tainted medication, things don’t always go so smoothly when dangerous or tainted medications are discovered. Many drug companies are resistant to issuing a recall, as the publicity can be harmful to their business. Furthermore, the company in this case discovered the defective pills through an internal quality control test. These tests are not universally performed as much as they should be, and manufacturers often distribute tainted or dangerous medications without even knowing it. Affected patients may not notice the harmful effects of the tainted medication for years, and medication errors can cause catastrophic consequences to patients and their families.
Do You Suspect You’ve Been Given Tainted or Defective Medication?
If you or someone you know has a reason to suspect that they have been dispensed a tainted, defective, or incorrect medication, legal action may be necessary to protect your rights. The Maryland, DC, and Virginia medical malpractice attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen have experience handling medication and pharmacy error claims. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys to determine if you have a case. If you choose to retain our services, you pay nothing until a settlement or jury award is obtained. If you have questions about a possible case, contact us at 800-654-1949 to schedule an easy and confidential consultation with one of our attorneys today.