Discovering that a medication you are taking has been recalled can be very frightening. You need to know if you are already in danger from having taken it. In many cases, it is not safe to just stop taking your medication and you need to know what to do fast. If it is a prescription medication, of course you should call your doctor. But what if it’s Friday night and the office won’t be open until Monday morning? Here are several steps you can and should take if your medicine is recalled.
- Look at the recall information on USRecallNews.com or the FDA website. There you will learn more about the reason for the recall and, in some cases, find instructions for what you need to do.
- Call your pharmacist. Pharmacists are an amazing resource. They will have information and can advise you of what to do next. It may be as simple as exchanging your medication for tablet from a different lot. Any time you have questions or concerns about a medication, call your pharmacist first. They are better informed than the receptionist at your doctor’s office, and when it comes to medications, they are often know more and know it sooner than your doctor.
- Call your doctor. If your prescription medication has been recalled, you should call your doctor and find out if you need a different medication and how to go about switching safely. If you are taking an over-the-counter (OTC) medication with doctor supervision, you’ll need to know what to take instead of your recalled drug. Sometimes it’s as simple as choosing a different brand.
- Go to the emergency room if you are experiencing symptoms related to the recall and cannot reach your doctor right away, or if your symptoms are severe or potentially life-threatening.
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