What You Should Do If Your Medication Is Recalled

In the United States, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has a meticulous process for testing the safety and effectiveness of every medication taken by consumers. However, even the FDA can make a mistake. When this happens, a drug recall may take place. A drug recall happens when a medicine is found to be defective or harmful to the consumer, according to US Pharmacist. Either the drug manufacturer or the FDA can issue a drug recall.

This may sound like a rare occurrence. However, it's actually a routine process that the FDA goes through every year. On average, the FDA will recall 4,500 drugs and pull them from shelves across the country, explains DrugWatch. Because thousands of medications are being recalled every year, it's likely that you may be currently taking a medicine that ends up getting recalled. What should you do if your medication is recalled? Furthermore, should you immediately stop taking it?

If you find yourself taking a medication that becomes recalled, don't worry. You have a number of options depending on the type of drug. If you were taking an over-the-counter medication, stop taking it immediately. Next, go to the store you purchased it from. You can ask for a refund and the pharmacist can point you in the direction of a safer alternative, according to Nova Health.

In the case of prescription medicine, you should call your doctor and explain the situation. They may recommend not to stop taking it, depending on your condition and medication, according to AARP. Also, check why the drug was recalled in the first place. For example, it may have been recalled due to certain side effects. If you have experienced those side effects, that is something to mention to your doctor, explains WebMD. In the end, the most important thing is not to panic. The FDA recalls drugs out of an abundance of caution and they many get taken off shelves for minor issues (via WebMD).