“Not all statins are created equal,” reads a headline from Harvard University’s Wyss Institute. This is true for the dosage of your statin, too—important to keep in mind for the 47 million Americans Yale Medicine says take a cholesterol medication daily.
This week that idea is being highlighted in a Food and Drug Administration report, with the FDA documenting the February recall of one statin due to “Presence of foreign tablets/capsules” after a one-milligram dosage Pitavastatin tablet was found in bottle of two-milligram tablets. The recall affects a total 770 bottles of 90-count Pitavastatin reportedly bearing lot number A252487 and expiration date 05/31/2027. The product was manufactured by Annora Pharma in India for Northstar Rx in the U.S.
The Cleveland Clinic explains:
“Pitavastatin is a prescription drug that can help lower your cholesterol. It’s a statin, which makes it harder for your liver to make cholesterol. A healthy cholesterol level lowers your risk of heart attacks and other heart and blood vessel issues.”
It’s not clear whether a patient, pharmacy, or inspector found the error, but the report indicates the distribution was confined to Tennessee, which is listed as the location of Northstar Rx pharmaceutical offices—so it’s possible the statin did not reach the market, though this is unconfirmed.
This week the FDA assigned this event as a Class III recall, by their definition: “a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.” Taking one milligram of a statin when your prescription calls for two milligrams might not inflict harm if it’s for a brief period, but unintentionally taking half the intended dose would likely be worth a discussion with your doctor or a pharmacist.
A universal takeaway here could be to take a glance at any pill before you swallow it down. For many, dosages are imprinted on the tablet or capsule.
Also, use your judgment and call your doctor with questions about your medication. Many doctors will advise, especially with certain prescriptions like some heart medications, not to stop taking a recalled product “cold turkey.” Work with healthcare professionals to find a fast—and safe—solution.
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The post A Cholesterol Drug Has Been Recalled in One State for an Unusual Error appeared first on The Healthy.
Almost 50 million Americans take this type of medication daily. This recall comes with a teachable moment for all.
The post A Cholesterol Drug Has Been Recalled in One State for an Unusual Error appeared first on The Healthy.