When we take over-the-counter drugs or medications prescribed by our doctor, we assume they are safe. However, this is not always the case. Drug recalls occur for various reasons. Sometimes it takes people getting seriously ill or even dying before an issue with the medication is discovered.
Below are the most common reasons for pharmaceutical recalls according to WebMD:
- Potential contamination—During production or distribution, it is possible for a drug to become contaminated. Usually this affects only a certain batch of the drug. Contamination can be from a harmful or benign substance.
- Poor manufacturing—A variety of manufacturing defects can occur with the purity or quality of the drug.
- Mislabeling—Due to mislabeling, you may take a medicine believing it is what it says, when it’s actually something else.
- Poor packaging or instructions—This occurs when the drug has improperly written instructions that cause confusion for patients or when the wrong dosage amount is put on the drug.
- NOLO also lists other reasons for drug recalls including serious side effects, injury or death caused by consumers using the drugs improperly or the FDA discovering a safer alternative to a drug.
If you have been affected by a recalled drug, it’s in your best interest to contact a personal injury attorney who can help you get the compensation you deserve.