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May 2, 2008

Recall of heart drug Digitek hits patients in the wallet

Journal photo / Sandor Bodo
Recalled heart drug Digitek is a generic form of digoxin, derived from the foxglove plant.

International pharmaceutical firm Avatis, based in Iceland, recalled Digitek, its generic form of heart drug digoxin, April 25

"due to the possibility that tablets with double the appropriate thickness may have been commercially released. These tablets may contain twice the approved level of active ingredient than is appropriate. The existence of double strength tablets poses a risk of digitalis toxicity in patients with renal failure. Digitalis toxicity can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, low blood pressure, cardiac instability, bradycardia, and possible fatality. Several reports of illness and injuries have been received...

Any customer inquiries related to this action should be addressed to Stericycle customer service at 1-888-276-6166 with representatives available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm EST. Additional information about the voluntary recall can also be found at www.actavis.us...

Any adverse reactions experienced with the use of this product, and/or quality problems should also be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Program by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088, by fax at 1-800-FDA-0178, by mail at MedWatch, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787, or on the MedWatch website at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Longtime radio and space blogger Lou Josephs is one of those affected by the recall (Drug Recall), and he's frosted:

I called MEDCO who sold me a ninety day supply under the Federal Blue Cross Health Plan. I asked them what to do. I had already called my internal medicine doctor to get a 30 day prescription for lanoxin which is the brand drug. It will cost more at the checkout but the only pain will be in my wallet not my heart.

They said they won't be taking the drugs back but referred me to this website.

You find this is a worldwide company based in Iceland. The local US office can be found here.
Dialing the 800 number gets you to a voicemail that takes your name, and phone number and street address. You would think that MEDCO would be shelling out since they filled the script. But, NOOOOOOOO. The company that made it is. Or least that is what I hope will happen.

The pill is small and green in color.

Tracking how and when this will happen at this point is still up in the air. I did talk to a MEDCO pharmacist to find out where this drug was made. He only knew who the supplier was not where is was manufactured. Guess what country manufactured this pill of death. It's not going to surprise you when I tell you CHINA.

Actavis's China factory is in Guangdong.

Posted by Sheila Lennon  at 7:22 AM | Permalink

Comments

Posted by: Dana Wade on May 12, 2008 6:52 AM