Urgent Digitek Digoxin Recall
April 28, 2008
A class I recall is being issued on all Digitek (digoxin) tablets, which may contain twice the approved level of digoxin.The existence of double-strength pills pose a risk of digitalis toxicity, which can result in nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, cardiac instability, bradycardia and even death.
Digitek is a registered trademark of Actavis Totowa (formerly Amide Pharmaceutical, Inc.) for their digoxin tablets, which are prescribed to treat heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. The drug is distributed by Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., under a “Bertek” label and by UDL Laboratories, Inc. under a “UDL” label.
Patients taking Digitek should contact their physician immediately for medical advice. Retailers who carry Digitek should return the product to the place of purchase. Overdosing on this drug can be very dangerous. In fact, it digoxin was used in a series of murders in the 1980’s and 90’s that were committed by a male nurse who claimed to have killed the patients to “end their suffering”. More on these digoxin murders.
Contrary to many rumors, Actavis states that Digitek is manufactured in New Jersey - not China.
For more information visit: www.actavis.us .
Editor’s Note on Possible Class Action or Mass Tort Lawsuit:
Given the overwhelming response in the comments below and in people filling out our attorney-contact form, we have began releasing information (at the request of the injured) to a pharmaceutical injury attorney who is working on building a case for the victims of this recall. There may be grounds for legal reconciliation in some cases. Please fill out our contact form and we will ensure that your email gets evaluated by an experienced attorney who specializes in these kinds of cases. Don’t forget to leave your contact information and as many details as possible about your experience with Digitek (Digoxin) over the last few months. Be honest and complete in your answers in order for an attorney to better develop your case. In the meantime, discuss the Digitek recall, and your symptoms, with a physician to determine the best course of action for your health and wellbeing.
Please share your story below and read what others have to say about their experiences. It is troubling and sad that so many people have been affected in such profound ways by the Digitek (Digoxin) recall, but sharing your story may help others understand what may have been causing their sickness.
Click Here to speak to an attorney about this recall!
Comments
255 Responses to “Urgent Digitek Digoxin Recall”
My husband, who takes Digoxin every day has had some very disturbing episodes, which we could not explain. He has had nausea, severe sweating, weakness, shaking, and generally a very ill feeling. When this would occur, he checked his blood sugar, and it was fine. It would eventually pass. But, it was so disturbing, that we mentioned it to his Cardiologist. He said it sounded like my husband’s blood pressure was dropping, for some reason. When I went to refill his Digoxin prescription, the pharmacist told me IT HAD BEEN RECALLED!! Why did no one know about this? And why has nothing been on TV or on the news? We are very upset about this! How did this happen? How did a drug, which was double strength get into the pharmacies?? I would like some answers! The FDA needs to get their act together and protect us.
My mother has been taking Digoxin for a very long time. Recently during a hospital stay, the nurses only gave her half a pill at a time. When she asked questions of the staff, they replied, “You really need to have your doctor take another look at the dosage to make sure you are taking the right amount”. She received her refill bottle today in the mail and also received a phone call from the mail-pharmacy informing her of the recall. If the doctors and nurses in the hospital knew this over a month ago…..why did no one tell her then? She has been taking this medicine since her hospital stay with no clue. It skipped her mind to ask her doctors again about what the nurses did and now it all makes sense. I thought that the doctors and nurses were there to help heal, comfort and keep patients informed. Why would this have been kept secret? I agree with Linda, I would like some answers as well!!!
I just received a phone call from my mother saying that the pharmacy just called her to tell her of the Dogoxin recall. The gave no explaination why just said to return it and they would replace the unused portion. For two weeks she has been feeling ill, listless, tired and had very slow heartbeat. The doctor put her on a monitor for 36 hours and she is awaiting his call as to the results. When she filled this prescription 2 weeks ago that is when all the symptons began.
WHY CAN’T WE PRODUCE OUR OWN DRUGS IN OUR COUNTRY. This is absolutely unexceptable. She had been feeling fine before taking this new batch of Digoxin
Why has it taken so long to notify those of us on Digitek ? My pharmacist just called me late today ! I have not heard from ANYONE else !
My husband was notified today of the recall and was advised by the pharmacy to get in touch with his Doctor….He has been throwing up daily, the Dr. prescribed Promethazine fo settle his stomach. He chokes and gags now but no longer throws up….How could this happen and who is responsible?
UDL Lab.
1718 Northrock Ct
Rockford, IL 61103-1201
United States
Founded in 1980
Phone:
815-282-1201
My mother has taken Digoxin for many years and when I attempted to refill her prescription yesterday, I was told by the Pharmacist that there was a recall on this medication. Digoxin is such a widely used and essential medication that I can not understand why there has not been more publicity surrounding this recall. Is this the responsibility of the FDA?
My mother is 85 years old and has been taking digoxin for a long time. In 2007 she was in the hospital many times. We were told that she was taking her medication wrong, but that is not true. This year her hair started falling out and when tests were run her digitek level was too high causing her hair to fall out. She has been in the hospital 3 times this year and nobody could tell us the problem. She has been feeling nausea, weak, nervous and depressed. Why didn’t the hospital or doctors pick up on this problem? I feel that it has taken years from my mother’s life.
Karen from West Virginia
I too have been on this medicine for 4 years-no one called me either! If it wasn’t for my neighbor telling me about the recall I would not have known-nothing is in our local newspaper nor on TV! I called Medco who is my medicine company-they told me to STOP TAKING IT-call your cadiologist and then gave me an #888 number to call which I did-they took all the informationa nd will sned me a env. to return my meds in it!
I’m on this medicine-no one called me about stopping it-except my neighbor mentioned it to me! Nothing on TV or our local newspapers! So I called Medco-the drug company-they said; STOP TAKING IT!! Call your cardilogist and get a new supply! I did this-they didn’t even call any of the patients to notify them of this recall!! Now I have to mail the meds to another place for a fullr efund!
DOESN’T ANYONE CARE ABOUT US FOLKS??? VERY POOR COMMUNICATION!!!!!
My mother has been taken digoxin for a few years now, and we received a call from Medco to stop taken this drug, I feel that this information should have been on the news, there are many seniors who don’t have computers and can look this information up, or there Dr’s have not call them to tell them to stop taking the medicine, which is bad, I have contacted my mother cardilogist, and PCP, and neither of them know about the recall, that is another bad move, they should have been told, one of her Dr’s said they will call in another script od digoxin because all the bad pills have been pull off the market, how can we be sure before we start to give a family member this medicine, will this every be on the news so all can be aware of the problem and health risk.
my mother in law was on this medication for a while and lately she wasn’t feeling herself. she had nausea hard time breathing and she complained about a metallic taste in her mouth. the doctors put her on nexium for her heartburn but she still wasn’t feeling right. well to make a long story short she passed away 2 weeks ago. i want to know how long ago did the drug company know the were defective.
I have been taking digoxin for several years. Recently , I’d say about three months ago i started feeling very weak and hard to breath, felt like i was running a mile a minute. All i want to do is lie down, I am depressed to the point of suisidal thoughts.I hate feeling like this.
I have been taking digoxin for many years, but five weeks ago I became very sick and blamed my symptoms on another medication. I have been telling my doctors for over a month that I was nautious and felt like I had a terrible hangover. I don’t drink.
My family doctor finally had me do some blood tests and it was found that my digoxin level was too high. He told me to break my pills in half, but I felt no better.
Yesterday a nurse from my insurance company called me and told me about the digoxin recall. The numbers on the pictured tablets matched my medication as did the manufacture’s name.
I went to see a cardiologist today who told me to stop the medication. I called my pharmacy (Walgreens) and the assistant manager of the store said they are not notifying patients because there were too many to contact. Think I’ll find a new pharmacy!
My father takes digitek too and has also had unexplained episodes lately, today he was notified via e-mail about the recall, but not told what to do. GO to your doc. and have your Dig. levels tested asap. Also I went to UDL. lab inc. web site they still have this med listed in all doses from Amide Bertek (bad mfg.) listed as available! This could have killed people, someone should be held responsible, and should do better than a gee whoops we’re sorry!!!!
What the heck is up with this. I have taken this for the past three years due to a couple of episodes of A-fib.
I had mine refilled in late January and two weeks later, after having a routine cardio net monitor put on, they found I had v-tach. They implanted an ICD and said they could find no known reason for the v-tach and labeled it idiopathic.
They stopped the digitex at that time and my ICD has record no v-tach events. I want to know when they started shipping these pills and what the story really is. I got a call from MEDCO, and now I want to know THE REAL DEAL!!
Lanoxin is the brand name drug. Unfortunately it looks like you can’t find Lanoxin right now since all of the digoxin users are switching back to the brand name product. Not a good thing when you’re out of the drug. My wife’s cardiologist says that she should be okay for “a couple of days” doing without the Lanoxin but we’re going to spend tomorrow on the phone seeing if we can find a supply.
my heart specialist implanted a difribulator last friday because my heart rate has been 100+ lately
My father’s doctor just called me to inform us of the digitek recall but said his dosage was very low and he might be able to just not take it daily.
He had told me for a few months he was feeling dizzy and a little weak, but I thought it was from his blood sugar levels being low.
Hopefully there is another solution rather than just ceasing to take a necessary medication and substituting it for another one.
MY FATHER DIED ACOUPLE OF WEEKS AGO HE WAS FINE. HE DIED OF CARIDIAC ARREST, HE WAS TAKING THE REALLED LOT NUMBER.
I have been taking digitek for the past nine years and i am only 24 now. The past weeks i hve felt very nauseous and wore out! All i wanna do is lay around. Over the years i have had unexplained episodes of nausea, sweating, feeling faint and like i could vomit and pass out. This all makes since. Always wondered what it was. Guess i know now!
My wife has been feeling weak for a couple of month’s and lately she has been feeling short of breathe and her feet are swollen, and she has been having an upset stomach for a few weeks now. We have put off a trip back up north because of her health, we were actually afraid she was having congestive heart failure because of the way she was feeling so we haven’t been doing anything except sitting at home and monitoring her vitals. Then we get a call from the company that we get her meds from the 29th. in the evening and tell us to contact her Dr. because of the recall, If this has been known for several weeks , why hasn’t there been notification to patients taking digitek before now. We have been scared to death for a couple of months now for no apparent reason.
My Dad was taking digitek also for quite some time now and a couple of months ago started experiencing symptoms as stated here such as difficulty breathing, nausea, blood pressure dropping, slow heartbeat just to name some of the symptoms he had. He went to the Dr. and they did blood work his Digitek levels were 4 to 5 times higher than what they should have been. He has had several blood test both at Dr. office and Hospital and Doctor were unaware of what was causing it to sky rocket. They had him up his water pill and stop his Digitek and was putting him back on it but in baby doses and then last Friday he received a call from the Pharmacist telling him about the recall. I want to find out has anybody spoke to an Attorney for damages and future damages (health issues that may not even be yet know because of their mistake). The 1-800 the Pharmacist had them call told me they are recalling ALL lots of this medication so hard telling how far back this goes. If you have any communication with an Attorney or the Manufacturer it would be helpful if you would post that info here - and you can keep your name hidden if necessary. Thanks
I can see how it would be frustrating that many of you had problems with Digitek/digoxin. The only way a drug can be recalled is if there have been enough people notifying there doctors of problems. The doctor then has to associate the problems with the drug and then notifiest he drug company or FDA of problems associated with the drug. In the future I would say if you are not feeling right and on a drug that a level can be checked, demand that your doctor check the drug level in your blood.
today the dr. changed my husbands digitek prescription to lanoxin,i hope it
helps,he’s been so tired so much of the time for three months ( 3 mos. presc)
it was not like him at all,we have been so confused by this change i hope this
change makes a difference.
I have taked Digiteck for about three years or more, and lately, I have been extremly nauseated, get very tired, having shortness of breath when I carry something, or come up stairs,couldn’t imagine what has been happening, there were a lot of unanswered things rolling around in my mind and just could not get a handle on it. I am going to call my pcp in the am, and see what he has to say, as I am more than worried about this recall, which I heard about on the evening news last night. Imagine that, no calls, or alerts, just a little mentioning on the evening news!!
My Costco pharmaciest called and informed me that my prescription was recalled on April 29th and to return any unused tablets. I had only 2 tablets left in my 3 month supply, so obviously this ‘lot’ of pills have been on the market for better than three months.
I called my cardiologist right away and he recommended I have bloodwork done to determine if I am toxic. I had that done yesterday and am awaiting the results.
The news report stated that this was a voluntary recall…..so why wait so long to do it? And most important…….where has the FDA been for 3 + months?
I have been taking Digitek, too and Wal-Mart notified me of the recall. However, I have found a number to get further assistance with questions and possible reimbursment for costs incured such as blood level testing, Physician visits, etc.
Call Mylan 1-800-432-8534
Hope this helps everyone!
Everyone keep in mind - what future damage has this done to your health. My father was suffering from Cardiac arrest and we know is last prescription was over 6 months ago because he gets meds before he leaves the country. Make sure when you call Mylan that you write down all your symptoms and have someone review them to make sure you have everything covered so they can’t come back later and state you did not converse that at the time of your complaint. Please post on responses you may get from them here so everyone can be prepared with this Giant in this Industry.
I am very concerned. My husband (now 47) has been on Digoxin for about 15 months and my mother (age 83) was prescribed this back in November 2007. My husband has had no ill side affects. My mother became sick about 2 weeks after taking the Digoxin, (she became very tired, loss of appetite and experienced severe nausea — among other symptoms) she returned to the hospital and unfortunately, passed away 5 weeks later. I discussed this new drug with the doctor and he felt it was a drug that was necessary for her survival — I even asked him to lower the dosage but he did not recommend that we do that. I just couldn’t believe that a woman that was very independent @ the age of 83 would become this ill so quickly without any reason and in a blink of an eye be unable to care for herself. When I got a call from the pharmacy on Saturday they were unable to tell me the reason for the recall (it is a large chain pharmacy). The best part of this recall was that I took the medication to the pharmacy, they looked at the bottle, handed it back to me and told me to throw the remaining pills away when I got home and didn’t replace the 10 remaining pills. Any idea who should replace the remaining pills that I was told to throw away — the pharmacy or the laboratory that made them?????
I too am quite upset about the recall of Digitek. I have been taking this prescription for three years now. My pharmacy left a message on my answering machine to please call regarding my prescription. Fortunately I called immediately, and they told me to stop taking the Digitek and to contact my dr. I responded by asking what are the side affects, because I too have been having problems with being extremely tired, dizzy and general flue like symptoms. I even thought it was my Thyroid and asked my dr. to order a blood test to check my thyroid level due to the lack of energy and weakness in my leg muscles. Since I was alerted two days ago, I have been to my cardiologist and called my primary care dr. My cardiologist ordered a EKG and has given me a new prescription for a med that he said is quite expensive, however since the Digitek is recalled, this is the monetary path that I have to take. This recall has cost me medical office visits, new RX’s, Lab blood work tests and stress. Who is going to be accountable for this mistake????
My father just had to have open heart surgery and have a LVAD installed. This was done because his defibrillator kept going off, and the Doctors couldn’t figure out why. This MUST be due to the Digitek he was taking!! My family is very upset; we want to know who is going to be accountable for this deadly mistake!
I am an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and I did not find out about the recall until late yesterday and even then it was just through word of mouth. I am very disappointed in the handling of this recall. If anything, healthcare providers should have been notified so we can call our patients. It is an embarassment to have to hear about this from a patient. This is a very dangerous drug to be getting an overdose of and I wonder how many people died before this was discovered.
I have been on Digitek for about a year along with other medcation for congestive heart failure. Some months later I started feeling fatigue and just blew it off. Well in the last three months, mainly in February I got really ill, nause,weak in arms extremely fatigue and sweating like crazy I lost almost 10 pounds in two weeks and could not do anything. I went to the emergency room, only for them to tell me (drink lost of fluids,rest and indirectly tell me possible flu.) I kept telling them that it wasn’t the flu that I felt differently, but they sent me home with a pat on the back. Four weeks the weakness and nause is still there. Some days I am too tired to remain out of bed and I have yet to regain my strength back. I still get nause,headaches,fatigue, sweats and now a radical depression has set in. I went to refill my prescription today and they told me it was recalled. SHOCKED and SURPRISED!!!! I just talked to my dorctor office today for a refferal and nothing was told to me about the RECALL!!!!!!!!! What is doctor patience care coming to?????!!!!!!!!
I am more then a little upset about all of this, I had been on Lanoxin for years then when I changed doctor in November they gave a new prescribtion and when I had it filled Wagreens substituted Digoxin, (without my permission) almost seven weeks ago I became sick, throwing up, shortness of breathe, I decided that I had better go to the hospital, well they decided it was probably Broncitus or pnemonia ( no xrays, just no other explaination) the gave me a lot of meds, none of it has helped. Then today I went to get my refill only to find out that it has been refilled and this is more then likely this is the reason I have been so sick, I am so angry, who do we call who is going to reimburse for all that unnecessary meds, the unnecessary doctor visits? I still have 40 of these pills and they sure will not be taken. Why did the Walgreens know about this and not notify us?
I should have said recalled instead of refilled
Yesterday I went to a new doctor who discovered a heart murmur, something the cardiologist never spoke about. Last year I had a echo which was normal. I think the digitek/digoxin may have either caused this or made it strong enough to be heard in a normal exam. I was on this drug for a month and the whole time my heart pounded in my chest. I finally decided this week to cut it in half. Then yesterday I find out it was recalled. What I didn’t need was another problem.
I am still awaiting the return call from the company to seek reimbursment (nearly 24 hrs have past). I had to miss getting an important eye surgery that would help relieve pressure and therfore save my vision in the one eye I can still see with as a result of this recall. I have had to make many phone calls traveled to get a blood level, had my Husband rearrange his schedule, etc.
There are many issues for everyone involved with this error and we will all have a different experience as a result of this horrible drug mistake but they are all serious and should demand attention. An attorney indicated to me that unless I have sustained long term damage, the best I could do is to get the company to reimmburse for expenses. However, I could stand to lose my eyesight as a result of the delay to get my surgery.
Is this America or some third world country where we just have to accept things like this happening? I don’t think the Lawyers have a grasp on the implications of this incident, yet. Any viewpoints on that or on the need for a class-action suit? I’d welcome any feedback.
I am an internist and want to clarify that I learned about this recall only after a patient called me, having been contacted by her mail order pharmacy. There are many ways to contact physicians and I certainly agree with some postings that this should have been widely publicized to all. Unfortunately the generic drug industry is lightly regulated in my opinion. Part of the problem stems from the relatively recent coverage of medications by insurance. This means that the rack rate price is meaningless—except to the unfortunates without insurance who can least afford it. Then, the insurance companies and their PBMs (pharmacy benefit managers) call the shots. Even a small community pharmacy can order from any “approved” generic supplier, so the pills can look different each time. Doctors themselves are out of the loop, after a prescription is written.
I’ve been taking Digoxin for years. Lately I’ve felt terrible and don’t even feel like walking across the room sometimes. I had a new pacemaker recently and hoped it would make me feel better but have had no improvment at all. My mouth is so dry and the doctors and dentist can’t see any reason. I just got notified by my drugest to stop Digoxin.I called my heart Dr. yesterday and am getting a blood test today. Strangely, all the number I called from the drugest only told me to stop my Dogixin but not call my Dr. The number also said they would call me back but they didn’t. Only said they would send material in five days. For two months I’ve been really concerned and have felt very bad.
I had a by[pass surgery in 1997 and have been on Lanoxin or it’s Generic since then. I got a 6 months prescription in October of 2007 so I would be able to spend the winter in Mexico. In December I started to feel very fatigued and had a loss of appetite. We left Mexico the middle of March and the 2 day drive to Tucson was very hard on me as I was severely fatigued and could not eat. In Tucson all I could do was stay in bed in a motel My wife and I left Tucson for Oklahoma City and stayed With my wife’s sister who is an R.N., she took my blood pressure and pulse and both were very low. We stayed a week under her care and continued home and went to my family doctor who tested my blood and found the Digoxin level way too high and had an EKG performed on me and for the next week had more blood tests. He lowered the medication during this time. I got my new prescription at Kroger’s Pharmacy ( I have used them for a long time) and a few evenings later I got a call from the pharmacist at Kroger’s telling about the recall that she was notified of 15 minutes earlier. I went to change the pills the next morning and she told me she had worked late calling all her customers that had Digitek prescriptions with her. She asked me what my symptoms were and told me that everyone she talked to had the same symptoms. I cannot say enough about her diligence and hope that all pharmacists are as conscientious as she is. We will just have to wait and see what the drug company will do voluntarily or will they force everyone to take them to court. Time will tell
My family, and I, just returned from an extended vacation in Europe. I was shocked to find out from Medco that the Digitek medication I am on has had a class 1 recall in United States. I have been on Lanoxin since being diagnosed with A/F in 1981. Since then IBM/Medco required me to change to the cheaper generic substitute Digitek — in spite of my cardiologist’s opinion that the name drug Lanoxin would be better for me; as the substitute was made abroad, in Mexico, and the doses were not considered reliable or consistent.
I started feeling fatigued during the vacation and thought I was just more susceptable to jet-lag than my family and just ignored it. Well, in the last month I got really ill, nausea, diarrhea weak in arms, extremely fatigued and sweating like crazy! I lost almost 6 pounds in two weeks and could not do anything. Thought I had Noro virus from the airplane. I was so weak one morning going out sightseeing in Copenhagen that I fell and injured my right foot. I finally went to the Fullham, London, Charring Cross Hospital’s emergency room, only for them to tape up my foot and advised me to rest. I told them that I felt ill and differently, but they sent me home with a pat on the back. After all these weeks the weakness, diarrhea and nausea is still there. Some days I am too tired to remain out of bed and I have yet to regain my strength back. I still get nausea, headaches, fatigue, sweats! I faxed Medco’s recall advisory to my doctor yesterday and they sent in a new, temporary prescription for Lanoxin, however, Long’s Drug did not have Lanoxin but gave me a months supply of digoxin that supposedly was not recalled. I’m now beginning to fell my old self again, however, the vacation was a disaster for us!
I submitted a comment on one recall place but admitted a few problems I have had. April 16,08 I had very severe pains in my stomach and it went over in my right side,I had ultrasound,didn’t find any thing on April 17, I started vomiting and diarrhea so bad I was getting very bad and they took me to ER. and they admitted me to hospital and gave me fluids. The nurse told me I had a heart murmur. I had upper GI and they didn’t fine any thing either. I had weak spell like I was going to pass out before that and Dr. thought it was inner ear. I still am weak and stomach isn’t ok. We need answers and what to do.
I have written before,after reading others sympthoms ,I realize my Husband RON
has many of the things I have read here ,FATIGUED some mornings he dosn’ t
want to get out of bed and when he does he lay’s back down with in 2 hours.
his arm’s are so week we thought they must be injured.our Dr.could not fine
any thing wrong.Also frequent DIZZY SPELLS,for a few years.His PROTIME as
of APRIL,5th was 2.9 .WHEN DID THESE PILLS GO BAD? DOES ANY ONE KNOW? I am keeping the 5 pills we have just in case something comes of this.
Another letter in this talks about LANOXIN ( MARTY MAY,2ND ) Our Dr.put Ron
on LANOXIN 0.25MG one a day are we looking at ANOTHER PROBLEM ?
I suffer from heart and lung problems and have taken digoxin for most of my adult life as a result of a congenital heart defect and 4 open heart surgeries. The lung problem was caused from taking amiodarone for atrial fibrillation and the doctor didn’t do the prescribed testing before and during the treatment.
Aetna RX called on one of their stupid computer calls, and left a message on the answering machine, to advise me that the product I was taking was recalled.
I have had most of the symptoms above, feeling bad, loss of appetite, nausea, low blood pressure, slow heartbeat, lethargy, etc. In addition, I have suffered a lot of musculo-skeletal pain lately but I don’t know if there is a relation since no one else seems to be experiencing that.
My doctor’s office advised me to discontinue the current prescription and has reissued a new prescription.
After my previous experienct with Amiodarone ruining my lungs, I too wonder why the delay in notifying us and why the FDA is such a useless agency when it comes to protecting us.
My husband (32 yr) has been taking this and over the past 3 weeks has been experiencing intense PVC’s that won’t go away. We went to the Dr. and he seemed to think they would go away but upped his level of amiodarone. After doing research we saw that if you have high levels of digoxin it can cause PVC’s. They have been making him so weak and tired, he has to rest just climbing the stairs. We didn’t get a call from anyone that this was recalled….completely unacceptable!!!
My husband takes Digitek 0.25mg once a day. He has had a few episodes, and one of just “falling over” the other day. Our daughter called us yesterday, and told us about the re-call……. we called Target, and a “sub” pharmacist gave us each (I take Digitek also) 4 tablets of Lanoxin last night, and told us to call “Jennifer” in the a.m.
She called this morning, and told us to call 1-888-276-6166 and (a recording) told me that they would send us a “kit” in 7-10 days to send the medicine back to them. My husband said to keep a couple of each tablets to prove what we have been taking.
What I would like to know, is:
1-who’s going to pay for the visit to the doctor? and
2- who’s going to pay for the test they want you to have done?? (Our Doctor called us today, and istructed us to come in and have a blood test.) and
3-who is going to pay us for the medicine we have to send back in??
If we get ANYMORE information, we will post it here.
Take care all !!
Pat and Pen
My husband, Bob, has experienced nausea, extreme fatigue, diarrhea, dizziness to the point of being unable to stand on his own, heavy heart beat, sweats, depression and had a full feeling around the heart. He is a rancher and was physically unable to take care of his animals many days resulting in loss of animals. He did not feel well enough to get on his tractor or drive his truck. He spent most of the day in bed! We thought we were going to have to get out of ranching. His doctor did a CAT scan and had an MRI because he thought Bob may have had a stroke or cancer. He also had a number of blood tests. We didn’t learn of the recall untill I went to pick up his script at the pharmacy. We have not heard anything on the news! How long would it have taken for somebody to notify us? The physical and emotional problems the users endured is APPALLING!!!. Add to that the expense for all the unnecessary testing!!
I was diagnosed with AF 18 months ago. Otherwise, I am an extremely healthy 52 year old. Over the last two months I have felt weak, and sometimes dizzy. Worse, I get unexplained splitting headaches, usually at night after taking my Digitek. I was feeling like I had a hangover when I had no reason to. I am bothered that I only found out about this issue when Wal Mart did not refill my Digitek. No notice from them. No notice from my cardiologist.
My husband has been on this medicine for a little over a year. He was put on it when he was 25 and got hospitalized. He has been very sick and depressed this whole time but the last two weeks has been alot worse. We have had to resedule doctor appointments for us and the doctor. I called the other day to make one for Wednesday my day off so I could go with him to explain how he has been swelling again and feeling sick to his stomach and hurting. His heart is already having problems on pumping correctly and then i got a letter in the mail today saying it was recalled. It said to call the pharmacist and they only gave us the amount since i last got it filled. after i went and gave them the bottle that was recalled and came home and looked on the computer i found that it was the same manafactur that was on the bottle. i was told to bring it in immedialy and for him not to take any. i went back and asked for my bottle and they tried to give me a print out of what i was given and i said no i want the bottle i brought in. i didnt want the medicine. he had some that was from a prior prescription and i looked at both and i could tell the ones he has been taking was a lot larger than the others. it said that this was recalled in march and i found out about it in may. why did it take so long and no phone call or nothing. i havent seen it on tv. i cant believe this and now i know why he has been so sick. this is horrible that it took so long to find out and to contact us.
When I went to get my 93 year-old mother’s Digitek prescription refilled one week ago, the pharmacy told me it had been recalled, but they didn’t know why. They substituted Lanoxin for the refill. Today, my mother said “I have been feeling much better since taking the Lanoxin. I had been feeling bad (weak) for a long time until now. I felt fuzzy-brained.” I had noticed the difference in her before switching to Lanoxin, but was blaming it on another medication she was taking. It appears I was wrong. Oh yes, the pharmacy called her today to make sure she didn’t have any of the previous Digitek prescription left, but they still didn’t tell her why. How could the manufacturer double the level of ingredient in pills without knowing it? How long had it been going on? Why weren’t consumers notified? My mother’s quality of life was lessened by this fiasco.
I have been taking Digitek for 14 months now. This last month I would get up and feel like i was going to pass out. I checked my blood pressure a few times when this happened and it was like 85 over 55. I reported this with my Dr. and he said to quit the 40 mg. of Lasix and to drink more water. I think he was wrong because why did this just start happening during the last month? My normal BP is about 130 over 70.
My new script for Digitek was filled April 3, 2008. Since receiving this new script, I’ve been gradually feeling very bad; weak, sometimes too weak to function. I’m extremely tired and sleepy, have been feeling my heart do strange things. I’ve had some shortness of breath also. My pacemaker doesn’t let my heart rate drop below 60. I have tacky-brady syndrome, and permanent A-Fib. Somewhere along the way Lanoxin was changed to Digitek, probably because the insurance company would only pay for a generic. I began taking Lanoxin in 1978 prior to my first mitral valve replacement. Second replacement was in 1982, and pacemaker in 2004. I wondered if I had the flu, since I had muscle and joint aches along with the tiredness and upset stomach. My pharmacy only wanted to give me 5 pills, so guess I’ll just cut what I have in half until the mail order pharmacy sends me replacements. I’m calling my doctor Monday for a blood screening. I was hoping I could make it without going to my doctor for my periodically scheduled check up in June I was feeling so bad, but guess now know what’s wrong. My heart isn’t going to stop, since I have the pacemaker (which kicks in 78% of the time).
On May 3rd I opened a letter addressed to my mother Delores Mae Jackson, My mother had been on Digitek for a long time, My mom was a heart patient for many years, she had a defibulator and she was doing good, suddenly out of the blue she started to pass out and feel dizzy and ill most of the time, she was getting very weak and loosing her taste to eat. and she was a good eater she loved food! we took her to her doctor and he sent her to a Nuro and we took her to him and nobody could find out what was going on, I mean no warning and she was either passed out or falling over! she got so depressed she even thought about and almost did kill herself! she went for help in every way we could of and nobody could figure it out! her defibulator began going off more and more till one morning it went off about 15 times non stop and not knowing what we know now we said enough, she was in pain and she was loosing her will to live so we did the hardest thing anyone could do, we signed the DNR and let her go, that was Feb 28th my mother died in my arms and now one Saturday May 3rd she gets a letter telling her there is a problem with her medication! Gee I wish we knew this then I would still have a mother and my kids would have a grand mother and my father would have his wife he was with for 55 years. I really hope this company is happy it sat on this info as long as it could, because the heart of our family is gone and nothing will ever replace it! oh and also she has a sister in the hospital who we cant even tell that she has lost her only sister alive because she is also sick and fighting for life! please keep her in your prayers.
Accordng to my pharmacy, the recall ONLY EFFECTS THE GENERIC VERSION OF DIGOXIN, which is DIGITEK. DIGOXIN is supposed to be just fine.
Luckily, that’s what my pharmacy gave me last month, instead of the Digitek given for four months prior. They switch them at will depending on what they have in stock.
Now they’re rationing Digoxin, because of the shortage of recalled Digetek and only giving out a week at a time.
SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE tried to murder a whole bunch of people, and the fact that this has not hit the mainstream media yet is HIGHLY suspicious.
My mother is 87 yrs. old and has recently had flu like symptoms. Her dr increased her digitek dosage to .25mg. I was concerned about the dosage increase and reqested an earlier appt. rather than wait 3 months for Mom’s next dr. appt. My mother had more bloodwork and I received a call from the dr.’s office advising to discontinue vitamins but they didn’t mention the medication dosage[April25,2008].We were told the dr. would be having surgery but to have more bloodwork regarding the B12 levels. No one mentioned her digitek levels were DOUBLED!!!! On May1st. the dr.s office called My parent’s home and cancelled Mom’s dr. appt for 5/2/08 without mentioning the recall. On friday pm the drugstore contacted my father about the recall with a new presription to replace the digoxin without advising to seek medical treatment!!
I am writing this for my wife Kathleen who has been taking Digoxin for over 10 year’s now she has all the same problems as everyone else in these comments. I am trying to find out when they found out how long these pills have been bad. My wife has been bad sick now for months and even had to go to a gastrologilist for an endoscopy etc. and to her heart doctor who said she has a leaking heart valve.
I just got a call from my pharmacist yesterday to tell me that the Digoxin I filled last month was recalled. To bring back what’s left on Monday and she would replace them.I wondered why I was feeling strange now I know why. I’ve been taking Digoxin for years and have felt fine. I’m surprised that there wasn’t anything about it on the news to let people know. It’s scary the power the drug companies have.
I am 73 years old, slightly over weight, have AF, a leaky heart valve, and am presently undergoing radiation treatment for prostate cancer. Other than that I’m in real good shape!
WOW!! I was very surprised when after I stumbled on the recall notice when I logged on to the Kaiser Website why something like this was not being broadcast over the radio and TV media. After seeing the recall I went to the Kaiser facility, returned my old prescription, getting a refund and a new supply.
I’ve been on this stuff for over 4 years and don’t really know if and when they do blood work if they check my DIGITEK level. For the last few months I have been having real heavy sweating sessions, even when the weather is cold. I also have experienced nausea, extreme fatigue, diarrhea, dizziness to the point of being unable to stand on my own, and a heavy heart beat,
I just found out this week that my older brother has been hospitalized while in Florida (he’s a snowbird from upstate New York) his kidneys have failed and he has been vomiting, losing blood and they can not find any reason for his condition, I called him yesterday and told him about the recall, since he too is on the Digitek digoxin, and there has been no warning given to him about this drug.
I should have kept some of the old prescription, just to find out if in fact my dosage was doubled. But since Kaiser was very anxious to get the old prescription back, I assume that the stuff I had was in the bad batch.
I’m sending a note to my cardioglist next, asking that my digitek level be checked, since I’m scheduled to do my INR comudin blood test tomorrow. If I find out any more I’ll add another comment.
STAY WELL!!
my 80 year old mother was put on digoxin 14 years ago after bypass surgery. she was a changed person after heart surgery. no m.d. questioned her bad temperment and the family was forced to live with it. recently she was taken off of that poison and i got my mother back but no bloody pharma company can give her back the years that were lost. hopefully we will wake up and realize what chemical poisoning is doing to americans…
I was called to stop taking Digitek also. I had been taking almost two years and have been having same symptoms.
I had one spell of atrial fib several years ago after walking and going up a lot of hills. I was checked into hospital and checked by a cardiologist who found nothing wrong. My regular doctor put me on .25 mg. and I have been taking it. I went to get a refill on Wednesday, April 30 and went back to pick it up on May l and was told they were out of it and it would be in Friday or Saturday. Went back on Sunday, May 4 aqnd was told it had been recalled. They had nothing to offer me as a substitute. I was never notified by my doctor or Walmart. All they said was there were too many to notify. If it had been recalled earlier than April 30 they should have known about it. I have experienced some dizziness, night sweats and leg cramps and lack of enery. I am calling my doctor tomorrow?
I am very concerned it has not been on the news…hush hush.. My 21 year old son who has DMD and uses an electric wheelchair is on digitek. Our pharmacy called us twice and gave us pill for pill replacement of digoxin. We were also given a 10 gift card for the store. I called my friend whose son is in the same predicament. She was never called by her pharmacy. My son sweats a lot at night, and has had a recent bout of 5 days trying to pass a kidney stone, lots of pain each night for 3-4 hours. He has had stones in the past, but it makes me wonder. He has also complained of tightness in his chest on occasion usually at night at least 2-3 times. I have not told the doctor yet as sometimes I think it could be a part of his natural cardio progression as his heart is getting weaker. I did contact the local news channel. I hope to hear more on Monday.
My husband was informed yesterday, Digitek has been recalled. He has been sick ,with mild diahrea, chest pains, breathing pains, and feeling very weak,He thought ,he was going into heart arrest. When we found out about the recall, he said:that explains everything. We called walmart and they said to take half the amount ,until Monday.I am very worried.
My husband came home on Monday saying he felt like he had flu! Early Tuesday morning he was shaking,Vomiting,and in general just weak..Tuesday due to NOT Knowing it was “Contaminated” he took his digoxin! AGAIN!
I called the Dr explained how he felt,They said fluids and tylenol,If he didnt get better call them..Pharmacy called next day told me to bring back any digoxin he had, do NOT take anymore,It was contaminated..They replaced it with Lanoxin..
Husband was sure it was flu or a virus,we continued the fluids and Tylenol!
On Friday Urinating was all but impossible as well as burning,Dr saw him,did urinalysis gave him a shot as well as medication..Nurse stated they were also sending out his sample to check,making sure he was receiving correct medication.
He isnt well Yet! Im most angry about what he is going through! HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN? As I said he isnt well yet! Anyone knowing him knows he doesnt lie in bed if he is well,He is a most energetic person.. Im still very worried about kidney failure happening to him.. My main concern is HOW DO WE REVERSE THIS? How long does it take and what is treatment?
I too did not know my symtyms until I felt slow and slougish feeling also I appeared a bit dizzy at timeswith i nausea . my pharmacy called and told me to return my bottle back to them and they would replace it with something else . I had taken 35of the pills not even knowing it was wrong dosage. Being bi-polar and taking much other medications iI also have an atrial ceptal defect,cardiac arithmia with a murmur and enlarged heart with CHF and take coumadin I’am 54yrs ol;d how do I know the affects of this with my other meds? ,and the long term affect of what the incorrect dosage has done to my health? sharon from Idaho
I was diagnosed with MVP 6 months ago. Otherwise, I am an extremely healthy 27 year old. Over the last two months I have felt weak, and sometimes dizzy. I was taking Digitek for more than 2 months. Worse, I get unexplained splitting headaches, usually at night after taking my Digitek. I was feeling like I had a hangover when I had no reason to. I feel like my hands and legs go to sleep. Two days ago pharmacy notified me of the recall. I am wondering that how long it takes to come back to the stable condition as before?
On 03/17/08 I began taking a new supply of digitek I had just recieved from Prescription Solutions. Around the middle of April I began to feel tired , depressed, out of breath and felt nauseous after eating. I became very congested and began coughing up thick sputum. I thought it was Amioderone Lung Toxicity, because the doctor switched me to it in place of Sotalol, so I changed back to sotalol on the 24th of April. The symptoms persisted and around the 28th of April my pharmacy notified me of the recall on digitek and I stopped it at once. After a week, I still have the symptoms together with a very low heart rate(45). Based on the response I recieved when I called my doctor, the recall has had very little coverage in the medical world. Someone needs to get the word out before this becomes a real tragedy!
I was just contacted by the pharmacy at the hospital in which my mother recieves her medications to let me know about this recall. My mother has been on this medication for at least 6 years due to her(CHF). My mother has been complaining of very rapid heart beat, along with feeling faint, and at times very anxious. After recieving the phone call this morning I decided to look for the recall on digoxin and sure enough. This is a very serious and yet dangerous situation especially looking at the type of medication it is used for, dealing with the heart, these pharmacutical companies need to really look at ways of preventing things like this because as we all know it could have ended up as a tragedy…. if it hasn’t already done so..
My mother, who is 81 years old, was recently put on Digoxin. She had problems with A-Fib. Last week, she complained of feeling fatigued, wasn’t eating much, and suddenly collapsed. Her neighbor was unable to reach her and called 911. They found her lying on the floor in her apartment. Her heart rate was only 45. At one time, the paramedics couldn’t even get a heart rate on her. She is currently hospitalized. Her MD called me and advised me “there was a bad batch of Digoxin sent to the pharmacy and, unfortunately, your mother was one of those who got the bad batch”. Nothing was on the news and no direction was given to the people who got the “bad batch”. I am hopeful that my Mother will be able to return home to her independent living. I believe the pharmaceutical companies need to be held accountable for this, but I am not sure what action to take. Did this medication come from overseas? We really do need some answers.
well here I am happy to be alive! I just called in today to refill my Digoxin and found out it was recalled. I have been feel very strange and not right for sometime.Tierd ,chest pains, breathing, etc! I just want to know why my Doctor or Walgreens didn’t call me and tell me to stop taking this dangerous pill? I am so pissed right now I just have to quit here sorry Thanks for this board!
I think it’s disgusting that they take so long to notifi the people taking this drug. I was originally put on digitek on Sept/2006 not long after that I changed doctors and the first thing he did was take my digitek level. It came back that I had a toxic amout in my body. He had me start taking it only on even days. Before I heard about the recall, I had been so sick , feeling extremely bloated all of a sudden. I started taking beano when I eat. At first after feeling so bad, I was afraid to eat at all.
I had my digitek refilled on April 28th, the recall was sent out on April 25th. My question is how can a pharmacy not know of a class 1 recall?? I did not even know of the recall until May 3rd when I received a letter form the pharmacy. This is so crazy, it is first hard to understand how pharmaceutical company could make such a mistake but more scary is the fact that my pharmacy did not comply or did not know about the recall. I wish I could find the words to express the anger and shock i am feeling right now.
A pharmacy tech called a few days ago to say they had a question about one of my husband’s medications, and I thought that perhaps a refill couldn’t be done because it was too soon. My husband became very ill last week…we thought he was having a heart attack. He’s prone to a-fib. but he said it didn’t feel quite the same. I had to call an ambulance, and he was told it was ventricular complications from not going to dialysis. He’s missed dialysis before because he didn’t feel well, and this didn’t happen. When I went to pick up a prescription the tech told me about the digoxin recall, so I immediately looked it up online, and now I know just what the problerm was. He could have died!
I am 82 years old. In August . 2007, I had a stroke. I made a miraculous recovery, with very few problems. I was taking many medicines and doing well.
Around the end of December I started to feel very tired, depressed, not hungry,sometimes dizzy. Over the next three months all of these symptoms increased. I have lost 40 pounds. My M.D did many tests over the whole period of time and on April 23, took away my amlodopine. I think he did a test for digoxin at that time. He increased my Celexa and gave me Megase for my appetite
Now they have recalled the digitek, My druggest (Raleys) replaced the pills I returned with digoxin. According to this article I am stil not sure if this is o.k.
The maze of generic drugs is beyound me
My husband is 49 and has atrial fibrillation. He has been taking Digoxin for several years. In the middle of the night a month ago he just passed out in the bathroom, broke his front teeth, began vomiting and had severe diarrhea. There was nothing we could think of that would have precipitated such an episode. He felt fine when he went to bed (he takes the Digoxing at bedtime) and was okay the next day. Then we received a letter from MedTrak telling us of the immediate Class 1 recall of the Digitek tablets. We instantly called his doctor and got in to see him the next day. The doctor ordered blood tests and an EKG and is now requiring an appointment with a cardiologist. We are very concerned as medical and dental costs are escalating.
I have been on digoxin since sept. of this year, Walgreens did not call me on the recall. i changed over to walgreen this last rx, i had a 90 day precription. Walmart sent me a letter today, i do not use them any more, but will change back in 90 days, walgreens should have contacted me, I am very upsetr, i called my heart dr. the nurse called walgreens, the DRUGESTsaid the manafactor (LANNETT) was ok, I called my heart drs. nurse, she said Digixin was ok, just digitek, well i sure hope so, i am still afraid.
Carrol Kowis
I’ve been a heart patient of over ten years and have been taking digoxin for the same amt of time. i was informed of the recall on May 1st by my Home Delivery Pharmacy, and requested a refill from my dr (who still have not sent the perscription in) …. i have some of the same symptoms that many have text here as well …such as: dizziness, lethargic .. heart palpitations and vomiting. It has been difficult to undergo simple daily tasks for the past few weeks … and in some cases a month and a half or so.
this definately should have been better handled by all comppanies involved to inform all those taking the medication of the recall.
btw: i contacted Mylar for two days now to report my info and such. i was unable to do so …….. thier machines are full of complaints/ concerns.
On Friday I called in prescription refills for all my meds. On Sunday I went in to Wal-Mart to pick them up and was told “None of the Wal-Mart pharmacies are going to carry Digitek anymore.” When I asked why the pharmacist just said he didn’t know and that I could try Lanoxin but they were out of it. He said to call my doctor and ask him. It was not until I called the doctor this morning that I was told the reason why Wal-Mart was “out of it.” The nurse tried calling a prescription in for Lanoxin to another pharmacy only to find out they did not have any because of the number of prescriptions being changed. I am completely out of the medicine and am trying to locate a pharmacy in the area that has Lanoxin in stock. It dawned on me after calling the doctor that my husband is taking it too. The nurse never mentioned changing HIS prescription! This whole situation angers me especially the pharmacist at Wal-Mart not telling me the real reason they could not fill my prescription! Was it going to take too much time to explain so he didn’t want to bother? When was Wal-Mart or my doctor going to notify us about this drug. If I hadn’t needed a refill I would still be taking it daily, as would my husband. I work at a hospital and get e-mails routinely about drugs available in the hospital formulary but have not gotten anything regarding this. What’s going on??? Why hasn’t this been all over the news?
My mother died in December. Yes, she had just turned 90. But she was put on Digitek in July of ‘07. My sister, with whom my mother was living, received a letter from Wal-Mart pharmacy on 5-5-08 about this recall. How long did this drug company know about this error. How long did Wal-Mart know. Did Mylan Pharmaceuticals murder my mother? The jury is still out. I will report back.
My brother had been on Digoxin for around 20 years. In January he got his prescription re-filled . A few days after starting his new prescription he started getting symptons of fatigue, sweating, coughing, gagging , vomiting, and he lost his appetite. After a week and a half of taking him to doctors which said he had a virus or some sort of infection, he did not get any better. I took him to the emergency room(Saturday Feb.9th) and they could not find out what was wrong with him. After a full night of testing, they then told my mother that he had toxic levels of Digoxin in his system(not knowing how dangerous this was) they talked like he would be o.k. and he would eventially go home. A few days after him going into the hospital, that Tuesday morning I got a call at my work that the doctor told my mother all they could do was make him comfortable. He died less than 12 hours later. My brother had a heart problem his entire life,(tricuspid atresia, ) but he was always healthy and active until a few days after taking his refilled prescription he was 35.
I have been taking Lanoxin for several years. I have been taking Digitek for several months. My health has been on the decline. I have been experiencing extreme shortness of breath, weakness, lethargy, dizziness, hair loss, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and A-fib. My blood pressure has plummeted many times and hospitalization has occurred as a result. One day it was 60/40 and dropped even more while in the Emergency Room. My heart rate can vary greatly as well. I am basically housebound unless someone accompanies me to the doctor, etc. because of the above symptoms. I currently have an ICD which the doctor has recommended replacing because the A-fib is getting worse. Saturday I received a letter from my insurance company regarding Digitek. My daughter and I immediately went to Wal-Mart’s pharmacy and they replaced the Digitek with Lanoxin. I find it interesting that I had to switch to Digitek because that is the generic my insurance would cover. I had been doing fine with my ICD until recently. Like many others, I wonder why this recall did not make the news. It might have saved lives.
My husband has been taking Digitek since 1999 for a heart arrythmia.
He is also on 2.5 liters of oxgen for lung disease. however, on Apr.13 I got his prescription refilled and in the last month his breathing has become much worse and he has had to up his oxygen use to 4 liters, as well as some nausea, lack of appetite and generally not feeling himself. today I found out about the recall of digitek. I can only pray there are no irreversible effects from ingesting too much digoxin for such a long period.
WHY did it take so long to find out.
China’ Killers on the loose!!!
Stop dealing with China! They are a third world country that care not for the people, just the $$$. Kinda like the U.S. Congress!
Digitek’ almost killed my mom… No one contracted her. Not’ her Doctor or her Pharm….
I just found out about the recall and the double dozing pill today on Jeff Rense’s website, just by chance.
I am so enraged by the comments you folks have written.
We must stop this from ever happening again!
The FDA is a joke…Thanks to the Bush Adm. and the Congress.
GD them!
This will call for a Class Action Lawsuit!
I switched my mom’s Doctor today, and also going to a new Pharm. Maybe Costco, they seemed to have called and notified their customers…
NOT” mine.. They will no longer get this families business… Rite Aid’ on Mission Gorge, in San Diego, Ca. 92120.
What stupid jerks!
Damm mad.
We justt got a call from the Kaiser Pharmacy today. 9 days after this newletter came out. My mother had massive stomach problem earlier in the year, she had multiple issues that can be attributed to this drug. there must be some kind of punitive damages for all who were taking the drugs both for the risk involved and the actual damges incurred1
My cardiologist called me today 10 minutes after I had taken my digoxin dose. He was very unhappy that Walgreen’s pharmacy had not contacted me. I called Walgreen’s pharmacy and was told that if I had not recieved my meds from that batch I probably was okay but it was a precautionary measure to recall it all. The pharmacist went online and came back and stated that unfortunately I had been given the bad batch. It has almost been a relief to read some of these comments. I have been very concerned over the past several weeks. I have been so fatigued that I had to focus to stay alert on my drive home from work. I have musculoskeletal pains that seemed to have developed for no reason. I have a-fib and hypertension and am also on Coumadin. I have Meniere’s disease and a have to take 60 mEq of potassium daily. I had told a coworker last week that I had upper right sided chest wall pain for several days last week. Also been having diarrehea off and on for weeks. I want this resolved. I wish all of you who commented the best and better health for us all now that this has been uncovered. This was way to scary to go through.
I have been taking Digitek for around 6 months or more now. I have ended up in the hospital twice and have had many periods of time in recent months to where I feel extreme fatigue and exhaustion, am wondering if taking the Digitek may be the reason for my inability to function as a normal 33 yr old woman should. I would be interested to learn exactly what to do and to expect concerning this recent recall. What are the long term effects?? I talked with a pharmacist tonight about the recall and will discuss further with my Dr. I’m worried about taking it, but am also worried about not taking it….Don’ t know what to do……..Shannon
i have been taking digitex 0.25mg TAB UDL LABS 2 or 3 years but now i have digoxin 0.25 mg
i am really scared to take it also i got the letter today from walmart called the 800 number all it was a recording giving basic information still have’nt heard from no one i have been nausea for about 2 weeks now how long has this med been on recall no one knows now we are the ones who are suffering with this mess all the testing medical bills money for the meds i am very upset about it my mind is just a spinning what else we dont know about anything that is going on i dont know why it was no on the news if it was anything else it would have been i think we deserve to know it is our bodys not there’s
My mom has been taking the recalled med for several years. Last several months she has been hospitalized multiple times.Symptoms have been severe stomach aches, nausea, vomiting, cold sweats, very low blood pressure, passing out, shortness of breath, & drs. couldn’t figure out what was causing it. Recently she hospitalized due to developed massive infection to heart. Mom ran out of digitek a few days ago and she recv’d recall letter TODAY! Wish I had video recorded how many times my mom has suffered horribly physically and emotionally. If they could only feel our fear. Unbelievable and shameful.
Well I am very worried, do I take the digoxin 0.125 mg., it is suppose to be the generic to lanoxin? i would rather pay more & get lanoxin, my heart Dr. called this morning ( the nurse) saying the digoxin is ok to take, it does not have digitek in in. I just do not know what to do, who to trust, since walgreens did not even contact me in any way. I asked the pharmacist at walgreena if they notified there customers om rx recalls, he said he did not know, so it seems that they do not ,by also reading everone s letters walgreens did not contact anyone. I will go back to Wal-Mart after my 90 days are over, walgreens is also higher, by $3.00 per 90 day supply.
I called Wallmart and they say my presciption of digitek (.25mg) will be ready tomorrow, May 7. They did not say anything about it being recalled. I am going to hold off on taking my last pill. I called my doctor, left a message and they will get back with me.
We have war stories of loved ones on this drug. Does anyone no of a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PENDING?
WAL MART’s data base disclosed our daughter was taking Digitek last summer.
Our daughter’s DEATH CERTIFICATE shows CARDIAC ARREST as primary cause. Examination of medical records disclosed very low blood pressure. Combined with extremely low Ejection Fractions (EF) during this period and other symptoms, we will investigate this matter to the fullest extent. Digitek might be a KILLER DRUG.
We received the WAL MART notice less than two weeks after the actual FDA Class 1 notice. It is good WAL MART had the presence of mind to act concerning this recall, unlike the competition (Walgreen). Or we would have likely never known. THANK YOU WAL MART.
We will report findings on this blog in the future in case our situation can help someone else.
One more thing. China, Europe and other so-called “emerging nations” perpetually send poisonous stuff to our country. Seems like I read defective Digitek was made in ICELAND. Rather than blame Dubya and the FDA, seems like it would be better to hold manufacturers accountable and responsible for their actions. JAIL TIME FOR CEOs.
I didn’t know about the recall until Friday when I went to get a refill. Fortunately,
the pharmacist (at WalMart, of all places) found me a 30 day supply of lanoxin
at Walgreens at reasonable cost. Just hope the generic is available again
when I need it.
Dealing with recalls in my business (appliance repair) I know how “panic” can occur, so I called my local, small town pharmacist about my Digitek refill yesterday. He informed me that they were aware of the recall and there were no other substitutes available; consequesntly they are continuing to sell Digitek WITH A PHYSICAL SIZE INSPECTION (double dosage being much larger in physical size). I have faith in my pharmacis, but will be more aware of any reactions I don’t have insurance, and my cardiologist is 60 miles away and hard to reach without an appoitment, or emergency.
my husband is also diabetic and takes Digoxen. We just heard about the recall by going ot the Kaiser website. The doctor said nothing the pharmacy said nothing. He has been confused and actually had a car accident hitting a guardrail. Thankfully no one was killed or injured. This is outrageous!
I have been on digoxin for 3 years in addition to Coreg. Seven days ago, I got a refill of the “bad stuff”, and I started taking it on March 30th. Immediately, I got nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea and I was sick for 3 days. Although I ate nothing different from the usual, I deducted that it was food poisoning (salmonella) and took CIPRO to kill it. Then, yesterday, I went to my cardiologist for a normal checkup; he took an EKG and detected Arterial fribulation. That was yesterday after 6 of the bad pills. After that appointment, I went to the gym. Normally, I can work the treadmill for 50 minutes without any strain. Yesterday was different. I was so weak that I could hardly walk out of the gym. I felt that I must have a heart failure crisis. Not knowing, I took a final digitek tablet last night. Today, I returned to the cardiologist who measured A Fib and he ordered a toxicity test of my blood.
My feeling is that Rite Aid should not have used snail mail to contact me. They should have spent the extra few bucks to telephone me immediately since it could have been (and still might be) a matter of life and death. I just wonder who was the executive at Rite Aid who made the executive decision to advise customers by mail rather than by phone.
Error - Started the bad stuff April 30, not March 30 as above
I am back, I decided to get the Lanoxin, not the generic. YES I did pay more but my health is more important, I feel ok so far. The sad thing that people on a fixed income will have trouble paying for Lanoxin, compaired to wall-mart & other discount rx. I am on a fixed income?
Our Mom took Digitek 0.25 mg for 30 days… She was put on them 4 March 2008 and passed away on 5 April 2008. She had been in good health up till the dosage began. She then experienced nausea, vomiting, dizziness, low bp, shortness of breath, and no longer enjoyed food and drinks, as the taste was different. We have her pills, what was the batch number? does any one know?
I only found out when I went to Walmart a few days ago about the recall. The pharmacist did know the reason–up to double the dosage, etc. As it turns out, I wasn’t taking digitek for two weeks prior (I messed up changing insurances), and I didn’t see any major change. My doctor though still took a digoxin level blood test. I have a month’s supply of Lanoxin. I had to pay for the brand name price. The insurance companies should make a temporary exception to brand name prices for Lanoxin. But that would cost money…aaghhh. No word in the news around here!
For years my dad’s friend (my dad is has passed away ) used to pick up my mom’s meds at the naval base because the meds are free and he had promised dad to take care of mom
lately with the friend having some health problems of his own, he has not been available to drive to the naval base so I have been obtaining my mother’s meds from Walmart
I just got the notice yesterday in the mail regarding digitek
WHAT A REVELATION!!!!!!!
mom has deteriorated rapidly for the last 3 months with dizziness, weakness, nausea, confusion, no willingness to eat or drink, falling
3 months ago she was a vital 87 year old in church 3 times a week, playing cards outside of the house 2 times a week, beauty parlor etc…
we could find no reason for her deterioration.. even on a hospital admission..
her only complaint is dizzy, nauseated and i think i am dying
i have “brought her back” from refusing to swallow meds, food or fluid by using a picc line to her heart for her hydration… each time she got better and i got in charge of her meds and gave them regularly… she suddenly deteriorated again
this has happened more than 4 times…
the last time she said pull the picc line and let me die
we called in hospice with the diagnosis of failure to thrive… she has lost 25 pounds over the last 3 months… with no diagnosis that can be solid….
nausea,, diarrhea,, dizziness, confusion, weakness, . ;now she cannot get out of bed… she is 88 pounds .. i lift her and it hurts her and hurts me
My mother is currently in critical condition because of the symptoms this pill has given her. She started feeling sick about a month ago she was doing fine till the pills side effects. She could not eat or drink because it tasted different and she was always vomiting and felt dizzy blood pressure low and was getting weak. Today the doctors have not figured out what is wrong with her but with the recall now I understand why mom felt this way . I hope its not too late but I am going to tell the docotrs right away that she was on this medication for a long period of time perhaps this is our answer we paryed so hard to get.
My father passed away about 3 weeks ago. A letter from CVS Pharmacy just came today about the recall. They said my Dad died of cardiac arrest. He has not been on diditek long but this still makes me wonder. He first complained of his stomach hurting, food tasting bad, no energy and finally heart racing. Makes me wonder if it was this drug?
My mother-in-law passed away in January after taking digitek. for several months. We are currently checking into when she received her last prescription and whether it was from the doubled batch. I checked with a friend who works in the Attorney General’s office and he informed me that this is not being investigated by the AG here in Ohio, but that a private civil lawsuit has been filed in Cleveland regarding this drug. I was told to hang on to the pills we had left from Mom’s prescription as they are evidence. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you as we deal with this horror.
My husband of just over 4 years, passed away last June 15. We had changed pharmacies for financial reasons, less than a month after getting his prescription from there, he died. We went to the doctor’s during that month because he was rapidly going down hill in those weeks. He would sweat profusely, stayed nauseous, couldn’t walk from one room to another without feeling like he would pass out. His heart would be beating out of his chest one minute and then just the opposite. He kept telling me he didn’t understand the sudden extreme change, that he felt useless and exhausted, he would often times cry about it. I would like some answers and hope that the attorney here will contact me. He had taken this medication for years like everyone else, but when I saw the pills pictured here it just left me numb.
I have taken Digitek many years. April 4th I developed flu like symptoms which lasted about a week. The next week my heart started beating irregularly. I could not even walk across the room without the rapid heart rate. Felt fatiqued and loss of energy. I went to my doctor and he has put me through blood tests, echo, holter monitor, stress test etc. I heard about the recall on Digitek from a nurse performing the stress test. No one has called me about it. Disappointed that nothing was on TV or that we were notified properly. I am now on Lanoxin and still dealing with rapid heart rates. I am hoping I will feel better soon. I would like to know what lot numbers accompany the recalled product.
I am a 74 year old male, who had been taking one Lanoxin 0.25MG TAB for several years. About 36 months ago, my insurance carrier insisted that instead of the brand name Lanoxin, I would be required to take the generic equivalent, which was detemined to be one Digitex Tab 0.25MG daily. Therefore, I have been taking the Digitex TAB 0.25MG TAB for more than 36 months. About 6 months ago, I begin complaining to my wife that I feel like old age is catching up with me, as I feel tired most of the time and for some reason my energy level is not what it used to be.
I found out about the recall today (5/6/08) and called my pharmaceutical supplier, who advised I should stop taking the recalled drug. They are going replace the Digitex TAB 0.25 TAB with Lanoxin 0.25 MG TAB. I will be going to my doctor tomorrow for a blood test to document the digoxin level in my blood. Hopefully there has not been any permanent damage and the Lanoxin prescription will solve my problem. This we shall see.
In my mind this issue raises the following questions: How long has the medical perfession known about the Digitex problem? What prevented the FDA from finding this problem earlier? How effective is the FDA in regulating the pharmaceutical industry? Since the FDA is not protecting the public, how do I know that other Generic Drugs are actually equivalent to the primary drug the doctor initially prescribes?
My father passed away in January after months of inexplicable fatigue, depression, night time hallucinations, fainting, wildly variable blood pressure, and peripheral and pulmonary edema. Twice we called 911. The first time the paramedics initially couldn’t find a pulse or get any reading on his blood pressure. The second time was similar, but they noted with some alarm that his T-waves were inverted in a way they had never seen before.
This wonderful man survived WWII and Korea, and then evidently succumbed to digoxin poisoning. The horrible thing for me is that he had asked me to lay out his pills for him each day, because he was concerned that he would make a mistake due to his sudden mental confusion. In instructing me what his medications were, I clearly recall him commenting that it was odd that the digitek pills were larger than they had been in the past. Now I am devastated to think that I played a role in his suffering and death.
Please, please forgive me.
My mother was taking Digitex TAB 0.125 TAB . she has been taking it for 10 days and after the first 5 days had nausea, vomiting, dizziness,. she only got a letter in the mail from walmart. I dont understand how this could happen.
only notifacation by mail? I think matters of the heart should be took alot more seriously, this makes me very angry this could happen..
I have been on Digitek for the last 23 years and within the last few weeks have been so dizzy and sick to my stomach that I was getting very concerned. I also had diarreah and have felt extremely tired. I did get a call from my pharmacy last week and stopped taking the pills on Wednesday night. I saw my doctor on Friday and he didn’t think this was my problem. He thought it might be an inner ear problem. I did go yesterday for blood work and am anxiously awaiting the results. My doctor said that “IF” my problems were from the digitek, it would go away within a few days because of being off the pills. Yesterday I felt great!!! Today, not as good. Somewhat dizzy again, but the nausea and diarreah are gone. I too have kept my remaining pills and at this point have invested money in lab work and a doctor’s office visit. I don’t understand why we can’t find out anything more about maybe the lot numbers that were affected, or how long this has been going on. Maybe too long to give us lot numbers??? This certainly is scary and I’m mad as all get out!!!
Oops! We posted a query May 6th at 5:41 pm about the dosage of Digitek our Mom took it should have been 0.125 mg. She was vital, healthy and alert till she was put on this medication Marchl 4th, she suffered from bouts of nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweats, loss of appetite. low bp, she passed away suddenly 30 days later on April 5th. We were heartbroken to read a letter sent to her on May 5th from Sam’s Club Pharmacy informing her of the recall of her drug! It was too late for her! When is this recall going to be announced to the general public?
i am 46 and have been taking digitek for quiet awhile for afib along with diltizem. now im switched to lanoxin i was not informed at all by my pharmacy i just happen to read it in the newspaper i couldnt believe the y never called . well now i know why i have felt so ill for the past 2 or 3 months with nausea tiredness headaches and dizzy spells i also have been retaining fluid with some irregular heart beats i have went to my doc and had blood tests done had my level tested ekg and soon hope to find out results. i was realy surprised how so many people have similar symptoms i wonder how long this drug has been like this i know for me its been at least 2 mths.
My dad who will be 78 this month has been on Digoxin for awhile now & my mom was just told about the recall from Wal-mart in the mail a couple of days ago. My dad has had shortness of breath, no energy at all, hasn’t been wanting to eat & has had to go on depression medication because he’s been so down in the dumps. This is so unlike him….and for months now our family has been wondering what the problem is. Now it’s hard to find Lanoxin since everyone is transferring to it…but we finally found a Walgreens who has it. I just pray that the affects aren’t permanent from this. I work @ the local hospital and I was telling my co-workers about it & they had no idea about the recall… If the FDA knew about this problem months ago…why didn’t anybody inform us about the recall sooner? My dad’s Dr. didn’t even know about the recall….now that’s just sad. How many people do they need to get sick or possibly die to finally get the word out? I’m very angry!
My mother has been taking this medication for some time now. A couple of times I mentioned to her doctor that she got very dizzy with cold sweats. She mentioned it was just her blood pressure dropping and this can happen when people with heart problems exert themselves. I mentioned the exertion was nothing unusual and she said perhaps for you or I, but for your mother it might be. I had my doubts. She has been feeling more tired lately, but I put that down to old age.
Just spoke with my pharmacy and they advised me - the pharmacutical company is recalling the medicine from March 2006-April 2008. I am quite angry over this, especially cause my future father in law was taking this and he just recently passed away.
Well I am back again today, I have taken the Lanoxin 0.125 mg tab. for two days now, my blood pressure is not so so low, I had mentioned to my heart Dr. that my B.P. was low all the time, he said if I was not having any problems just watch it. Well it was low Today I feel better, I am not so tired, I hope as time goes all of the Digitek will get out of my system, if that is possiable. I am still very mad about the entire thing.
I recently learn that a prescription i was taking in 2004 was recalled.At the time i found out i had a very slow heart rate.I was tired all the time.I dizzy many time and couldn’t function with simple tasks.I confered with my cardioligists,He sugested i i wear a monitor at home two fined out what was troubling me.The results was i had bradycardia,a slow heart rate.Which as i recall was below 30 bpm.I havn’t had these symptoms before.I only had atra-fib,enlarge heart thyroid problems,Fast heart-rate.I started taken the digoxin april 2004,October 2005 I was diagnois with the bradycardia,which i had the guidant pacemaker implanted in february 2006.I stop taking the drug afew months there after.Until a few weeks ago i learned my heart rate was fast again.At first they thought my pacemaker was not working.I really am not familuar with what really going on,doctors started me on digixon again,now i am learning this drug may be the cause of all my problems.I do not know what is going on but i am scared.MY heart rate is jumping all over the place.I don’t even want to go to the hospital,I am scared as to what they will give me next.i will say no more. john gutowski
This is very upsetting and frustrating! Is anyone getting answers?? I have been taking Digitek .25 tablets for a few years, last August my dosage was changed to alternating .25 and .375. I haven’t felt right for awhile, but have been through a lot the past 6 months and attributed it to that. I received a call from my pharmacist last week about the recall. They gave me digoxin in place of the digitek, but now it seems that my symtoms are getting worse. Anyone else changed to digoxin? I called my cardiologist, who didn’t even know about the recall, and my PCP, who didn’t even want to talk about it. Where do we go from here??
My grandmother who is 83 has been taking Digitex since 2006. She was admitted in the hospital in January for being dizzy. She stated in the hospital for 1 week, they released her with no cause just telling her she had virtico (dizzy). 5 months later she is still very dizzy, she has had the nausa the vomiting, being tired and complained of no energy I have noticed she seems depressed. Mind you during these five months she has had every test under the sun with no cause or reason to why she is dizzy! Yesterday she received a web site print out from Rite Aid of the recall and asked to return her pills.
It just really irretates me to know she has been suffering and so many other people have been suffering along with their family’s and they are just now telling of the recall?? Why didn’t the Lanoxin /Digitek Manufacture announce the recall on TV?? They are hoping their ooops will blow away in the wind! NOT!!!
I have been on digetex for less than a year. i have had dizzy or equilibrum problems since i have been on it. As of May 7 i have not recieved any notice from anyone about the medicine. I saw it on TV and i am concerned I am not taking it.
My mother (age 83) had taken 10 pills from her most recent refill before we were notified by the pharmacy that the medication was recalled. She has all the symptoms of the drug overdose and is now taking the brand name drug. Doctors are monitoring her blood levels regularly but she remains in serious condition. Why hasn’t the news media been concerned enough to make this information public?
Have been on Digitek 0.25MG since I had some Atrial Fibrillation about 10-months ago. Had electrocardioversion, was back in normal sinus rythem and was feeling great until a few months back. A few months ago started getting really bad hives (urticaria), had tingling in the left hand fingers, headaches, light headed, dizzy spells. About 3-weeks ago started getting really short of breath (scary short) fast heart beats over 100, went to Dr. referred to Cardiologist. Placed 24 halter on me showed bad ekg, Arythemia and some a-fibs, had echo showing really poor EF and other Arythemia problems. Dr said I may need an implantable defib/pacemaker. This has all scared the life out of me. Have stopped the digitek because I just read about it but on one called me or heard nothing on the news about this. I only hope that this has not caused any permanent damage.
Well we are having an investigation into my grandfathers death, he past on March 9th. He had all the signs and symptoms when we found him on the floor of his bedroom. His doctor and the attorney have both agreed, after reviewing his medical records, that Digitex was the cause. They have no reports of death because we have just begun the process. We received the letter 3 days ago, if only it had come 2 months soon, he would still be alive. This recall has not been published or announced on any of our local news channels or new papers. He was a relatively healthy man that was very active and we find him dead on the floor of his bedroom. I just do not understand why it took so long to find out that there was a proble with this medication. There are no excuses for this type of mistake.
My husband has been taking this medication for quite some time. He passed away at a very young age of 52. I called the company and they told me he had been taking the bad medicine. I think I have a lawsuit.
I guess I should have put a little more details in message. My husband died Feb. 26. I went home and talked to him at lunchtime because he wasn’t feeling well and came home after work and he was gone. I would like to hear if anyone else thinks a loved one has passed away because of this drug and what steps do I take now. I hear the words class action suit, but am new at this. Never thought this would happen to anyone in my family. I just receive the letter Monday of this week their was a problem with drug. I wish i would have heard about it much earlier. Any ideas???
My grandmother who is 78 has been on digitek for several months.She has been so sick since she’s been taking that medicine along with many others. She has congestive heart failure. A couple dr visits ago she did stress tests and every other test you can think of. she has been going to her dr for a long time and he could never find anything wrong with her heart and he put her on the digitek and after that her condition keep getting worse and she has had drastic drastic weight loss, constant vomitting and nausea. Recently found out she had an heart attack and didnt even know about, and has one of the severist cases of congestive heart failure weakened muscle valves. dr even suggested an ICD her heartbeats contantly and i havent heard any comments about this, but my grandmother has a persistent cough that she cant get rid of. she has been sick for a very long time, shortness of breath, and all the other symptoms. we just got the mail from our pharmacy today, but nothing heard from dr yet. this is very disappointing and i hope something will be done, specially if your messing around with someones health and a lot of these people are elderly and my grandmother hasnt been the same since. she really hasnt.
I just heard about this from a co-worker and was appalled that there has been no information on the airwaves. With all of the big pharma bashing it makes you wonder why they are protecting the generic producers since this is a major safety issue. I called the local (San Diego) news station to ask if they were going to report this news story. We will see.
I took my wife to the doctor because she was feeling poorly. They called her in, while I remained in the waiting room. Soon I was called to go back to where she was. Her blood pressure had dropped drastically and they had already called for an ambulance. I followed them to the hospital. She was admitted.
They were taking blood samples every 4 hours or so all night. She was released around noon time.
My wife has been taking Digitek for some time now. When we went to pick up her prescription at WalMart end of last month, we were told it had been recalled.
Today we got form letter dated May 2008 confirming same.
Rich Martin
(817) 483-0230
I have been on Digitek for years and other heart medications.
about last october I would have to vomit about an hour after taking my meds
I was nauseated and so dizzy I would walk into the walls. several times at night
I fell off the toilet because I would get so dizzy also my knees and elbows would
ache and my feet would swell. In Feb. they reduced my digitek and except for
some muscle weakness I feel