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Food and Drug Administration Tracks Recalls and Safety Alerts Regarding Potentially Dangerous Products
by Mandy Hicks
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about half of all Americans take at least one prescription medication. Many also take over-the-counter medications – such as pain relievers, vitamins, and antihistamines – on a regular basis. It is, therefore, very important that pharmaceutical products be carefully monitored.
Patients who are harmed by unreasonably dangerous or defective medications may be able to obtain compensation for their injuries via a product liability lawsuit. Such suits often allege multiple theories of liability, including negligence, strict liability, failure to warn, and breach of warranty.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the federal agency charged with protecting and promoting the health of Americans through the regulation and supervision of prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements, and related products.
Drugs Currently on Recall/Safety Alert List
The FDA keeps a database of food and drug products that are the subjects of recalls and safety alerts. One recently recalled product on that list is Glades Drugs’ compounded multivitamins. According to a firm press release, the vitamins were voluntarily recalled in late November after the FDA received reports of “several adverse events” that were believed to possibly be associated with the vitamins, which were found to have high amounts of Vitamin D3. Vitamin D toxicity can be life-threatening in some cases.
Fit Firm and Fabulous has also voluntarily recalled certain herbal slimcaps because of the presence of sibutramine, a substance that was removed from the U.S. market five years ago due to safety concerns. According to the firm’s press release, the product could cause increased blood pressure or pulse rate in some patients and could potentially cause life-threatening complications in patients with certain medical conditions.
Another weight-loss product also made the list: Pink Bikini dietary supplements. In this case, the culprit was undeclared diclofenac, which can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke and can potentially cause birth defects.
What About Products Not on the List?
While the FDA’s list is helpful because it gives consumers a resource for researching potentially dangerous or defective food and drug products, there are many products that never make the list but are nevertheless potentially problematic and even deadly. Those who suspect that they have been exposed to a bad product should consider speaking with an attorney about their concerns as soon as possible. As with other areas of civil litigation, statutes of limitations apply to product liability lawsuits, and suits not timely filed are likely to be dismissed. Statutes of repose may further shorten the time period during which certain product defect cases may be filed.
To Get Help with Your Case
Those who have been injured due to a defective pharmaceutical or medical product have a right to file suit in a court of law seeking compensation for their injuries. To speak to an experienced Kentucky product liability attorney about whether you have a viable case, call English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley at (270) 781-6500 and ask for a free consultation. We represent clients throughout Kentucky and Tennessee, including Bowling Green, Clarksville, and Franklin.
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