What to Do When Your Medication Is Recalled

## What is a drug recall? A drug recall occurs when a prescription or over-the-counter medication is removed from the market because it is found to be defective, potentially harmful, or in violation of FDA regulations. Recalls can be initiated by the manufacturer voluntarily or at the request of the FDA. The most common reasons for drug recalls include contamination (such as the presence of impurities like NDMA), mislabeling, incorrect potency, and packaging defects. Understanding recall classes can help you assess the urgency of the situation. ## Recall classes The FDA categorizes recalls into three classes based on the level of health risk: **Class I** recalls involve situations where there is a reasonable probability that use of the product will cause serious health consequences or death. These are the most urgent and require immediate action. **Class II** recalls involve products that may cause temporary or medically reversible health problems, or where the probability of serious harm is remote. These are the most common type of recall. **Class III** recalls involve products that are unlikely to cause any adverse health reaction but violate FDA regulations. These are the least urgent. ## What to do if your medication is recalled First, do not stop taking your medication abruptly without consulting your doctor, especially if you take it for a chronic condition. Stopping certain medications suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms or worsening of your condition. Contact your pharmacist to confirm whether your specific lot number is affected. The recall notice will include lot numbers, expiration dates, and NDC numbers. Your pharmacist can check your prescription records against this information. If your medication is affected, your doctor can prescribe an alternative or a different lot of the same medication. Most pharmacies will replace recalled medications at no additional cost. ## Staying informed Sign up for FDA recall alerts at the FDA website or through the FDA Recalls app. You can also check the FDA's drug recall database regularly. Your pharmacy may also contact you directly if a medication you've received is recalled.