Tainted Drugs: Are Our Prescriptions Safe?

Here's what the experts say you should know — and do — if a drug you take has been recalled or pulled from drugstore shelves.

How can I check for a drug recall?

You may get a call, letter or email from your pharmacy or your doctor's office if a prescription drug you take has been recalled.

You can also call the pharmacy that fills your prescriptions, go to its website or check the FDA's online list of recalled drugs at fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/drug-recalls. Another option: Call the FDA consumer line at 888-INFO-FDA (888-463-6332). And go to updates.fda.gov/SubscriptionManagement to sign up for alerts about future recalls.

What do I need to check for a recall?

You'll need the drug's name (generic and brand, if the drug has one), the dose, the manufacturer's name and the lot number to check against the FDA's recall list. You'll find some or all of that on the label. Hardest to find is the lot number; usually it is printed next to the expiration date, near the label's bar code or near the directions for use. On a drug blister pack, check the foil backing. For creams and gels, the lot number may be on the back of the tube. But the lot number and the manufacturer's name may be missing from the label entirely. In that case, your drugstore can provide the information.

My drug has been recalled. What should I do now?

Contact your doctor or pharmacist. Your pharmacist may be able to refill your prescription quickly with the same medication from a lot that hasn't been recalled or with a comparable medication. If you took an over-the-counter drug that's been removed from the shelves, she may be able to recommend something that works in the same way.

Do I stop taking a recalled drug?

Don't assume you should stop. For recalled drugs, the risk of quitting, even for a few days, may be far greater than the risk posed by a minute amount of a toxic substance. That's been the case with “sartan” drugs. “If you stop your blood pressure medication, your blood pressure can spike. That can increase your risk for a stroke or a heart attack,” says cardiologist Steven Nissen, of the Cleveland Clinic. “It can be anxiety-provoking to continue taking a recalled medication. But the cancer risk posed by nitrosamines is theoretical. You don't want your blood pressure to go up precipitously while you're waiting to get a doctor's appointment.”

Don't panic, Benson says. “The FDA has a list of more than 43 angiotensin II receptor blockers that have been tested and do not contain nitrosamine impurities,” he says. “So there are options. The key is staying in touch with your pharmacist and doctor. I've had patients who took valsartan for years, stopped due to the recall, and their blood pressure became poorly controlled. That shouldn't happen."

It’s worth asking your doctor or pharmacist before replacing a recalled or removed-from-the-shelf over-the-counter drug, too. “Consumers can easily switch from ranitidine or Zantac to another H2 blocker, but it’s good to know that we usually recommend famotidine (Pepcid) and nizatidine (Axid) over cimetidine (brand name Tagamet),” says gastroenterologist Ali Rezaie, an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. “Cimetidine is the oldest H2 blocker. It has the most potential drug interactions and side effects include impotency and gynecomastia — enlarged breast tissue — for men.”

Can I flush tainted drugs?

No. In the case of ranitidine, that could increase levels of nitrosamines in the groundwater, according to the independent drug-testing pharmacy Valisure. Ask your pharmacist or check the FDA recall information. Many drugstore chains took back ranitidine and gave consumers a refund. For recalled ARBs, some drug manufacturers and pharmacies offered to send consumers prepaid kits for returning the drug.

Is there any way to tell if a drug contains nitrosamines or DMF?

No, says Kristi Muldoon Jacobs, of the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, a nonprofit that establishes standards for drugs. “With the recent issues, there would be no way to tell from the way a product looks or tastes,” she says. It's also not possible to independently test your drugs on your own, adds Tod Cooperman, M.D., president and founder of ConsumerLab.com, which independently tests supplements. It's always smart to call your pharmacist and doctor if a medication you take suddenly looks, tastes or smells different or if you're having unusual side effects, he says.

Sari Harrar is an award-winning science and health journalist who has written or collaborated on 15 health-related books.