Good Drugs, Bad Drugs: Knowing What Is Safe

Every day people across the United States take medications expecting the proper, safe drug has been prescribed. Far too often, pharmaceutical mistakes are made or drug products are adulterated. The result is injury and even death.

Last summer an outbreak of meningitis gave rise to a medical mystery that was solved by discovery of contaminated drugs compounded by a company under non-sterile conditions. Steroid injections populated by fungal toxins have killed 61 people to date and caused stroke, abscess and deep spinal infections still being discovered today.

While the meningitis outbreak made national news, how do you know the drug you are taking is right for you?  How do you know the particular lot of a drug is not contaminated?  Largely, the answer is trust in your doctor and the pharmacy that provides your medication.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also reports on drug recalls. Recent drug problems include the following:

• Silver Sword: A dietary and sexual supplement, Silver Sword has been found to include the drug Sildenafil, potentially causing dizziness, lowered blood pressure and a feeling of light-headedness.
• Estarylla: In one lot of this oral contraceptive, a row of active pills was replaced with placebo pills.
• Olmesartan Medoxomil: Marketed as Benicar, and under other brand and generic names, this blood pressure drug has been found to potentially cause severe, chronic diarrhea and weight loss with long-term use.
• Benztropine Mesylate: Used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, several lots of this drug are being recalled due to the presence of glass particles.

Talk to your doctor if concerned about medications you are taking and always ask your pharmacist if you are confused by dispensing instructions or drug warnings. If injured, speak with an experienced personal injury attorney in New York.