'Huge Novartis Recall: Bufferin, Excedrin, Gas-X & NoDoz" By Rev. Barbara Sexton Dear Ones Healing Ministry

photo courtesy http://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/info/about-us/index.jsp

From the FDA:

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Parsippany, January 8, 2012 – Novartis Consumer Health, Inc. (NCH) announced today that it is voluntarily recalling all lots of select bottle packaging configurations of Excedrin® and NoDoz® products with expiry dates of December 20, 2014 or earlier as well as Bufferin® and Gas-X Prevention® products with expiry dates of December 20, 2013 or earlier, in the United States. NCH is taking this action as a precautionary measure because the products may contain stray tablets, capsules, or caplets from other Novartis products, or contain broken or chipped tablets.

The affected bottle sizes are attached to this release. The Novartis Consumer Health Inc. Lincoln, NE facility has voluntarily suspended operations and shipments to accelerate maintenance and other improvement activities at the site.

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)."

LINK: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm286240.htm

"These over-the-counter products were distributed nationwide to wholesalers and retailers."

LINK: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm286240.htm

Here is a list of drugs affected by this recall:

LINK: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Safety/Recalls/UCM286242.pdf

This list includes the drugs highlighted above IN VARIOUS FORMS.  Be sure to check for yours!

"Adverse events that may be related to the use of these products may be reported to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program either online, by regular mail or by fax:

• Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
• Regular Mail: use postage-paid FDA form 3500 available at:
  www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm .
  Mail to MedWatch, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD  20852-9787
• Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178

For more information, please visit http://www.novartis-otc.com/otc/index.html "

Some Endo Pharmaceutical products (made by Novartis) are ALSO under investigation:

"FDA is advising healthcare professionals and patients of a potential problem with opiate products manufactured and packaged for Endo Pharmaceuticals by Novartis Consumer Health at its Lincoln, Nebraska manufacturing site. Due to problems that occurred when these products were packaged and labeled at the site, tablets from one product type may have carried over into packaging of another product. This could result in a stray pill of one medicine ending up in the bottle of another product. The likelihood of this occurring in medication dispensed to patients is estimated to be low...Endo is not aware of any patient having experienced a confirmed product mix-up, nor any adverse events attributable to a product mix-up. Nonetheless, to ensure continued patient safety and access to these needed medicines, FDA advises patients and healthcare professionals to examine opiate medicines made by Endo in their possession and ensure that all tablets are the same. FDA and Endo are providing instructions on how to identify an incorrect tablet in these medicines.

Opiates are potent medications used to alleviate pain and are available only by prescription. The following Endo Pharmaceutical products^{1 2}may be affected by the packaging problem (see also www.endo.com³):

• Opana® ER (oxymorphone hydrochloride) Extended-Release Tablets CII
• Opana® (oxymorphone hydrochloride) CII
• Oxymorphone hydrochloride Tablets CII
• PERCOCET® (oxycodone hydrochloride and acetaminophen USP) Tablets CII
• PERCODAN® (oxycodone hydrochloride and aspirin, USP) Tablets CII
• ENDOCET® (oxycodone hydrochloride and acetaminophen USP) Tablets CII
• ENDODAN® (oxycodone hydrochloride and aspirin, USP) Tablets CII
• MORPHINE SULFATE Extended-Release Tablets CII
• ZYDONE® (hydrocodone bitartrate/acetaminophen tablets, USP) CIII

The likelihood of finding a wrong tablet in an opiate pain medication dispensed to patients is low and patients should not be unduly alarmed. For medications already in homes and pharmacies, there are simple steps (see links below) that patients and healthcare professionals can take to identify whether they have any affected products.

Patients should follow the instructions provided by FDA⁴ and Endo^{5 6}and look carefully at all of the pills in their pain medicine bottle. For any questions, patients should contact Endo Pharmaceuticals at1-800-462-3636 or ask their pharmacist or doctor for additional help in identifying whether there are any problems with their medication.

When dispensing a medication, pharmacists should perform a visual inspection according to the instructions provided by FDA⁷.

FDA is actively working with Novartis and Endo to address the manufacturing problems. Due to the problems that occurred when these products were packaged and labeled at the manufacturer, tablets from one product may have carried over into packaging of another product.

In the coming weeks we expect there will be periods of shortages for these products. FDA is working with Endo and Novartis to minimize the degree of impact. The degree of shortage will depend upon how quickly safeguards can be put in place to prevent this manufacturing issue from happening in the future and how soon manufacturing can be re-started.

Novartis has initiated a consumer level recall of the other non-opiate products made at their Lincoln, Nebraska manufacturing facility out of an abundance of caution for these other products. Please see the Novartis Press Release⁸ for more information.

FDA will update the public if this situation changes and more information is available."

LINK:  http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm286226.htm
Please check what you have in your medicine cabinet.  Be sure to consult your pharmacist or physician to learn what is best for you!
Blessings,
Rev. Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com