What to do if your medication has been recalled

Prescription medication can be recalled for several reasons. But that still leaves an important question: what should Kentucky consumers do if they are on a medication that has been recalled?

WebMD’s first piece of advice is for people stop taking medication that has been recalled immediately. These medications can usually be returned for a refund at pharmacies when a shelf-pull is announced. There are also options available for alternative medications that the pharmacist may suggest. This will tide customers over during the recall period until they can get back on their original medication or find a long-term substitute.

It is also advised to read up on the product that has been recalled. The FDA has stated that their website will usually have information for market withdrawals and product recalls. This will allow consumers to understand what a product is being pulled for, what side effects to be on the lookout for, and other information about the medication.

Consumers should also “play it safe”. This means discarding all medication that has been recalled even if nothing seems to be wrong with it, or even if people are not experiencing any adverse effects. It is better to err on the side of caution in these situations. Medication should be disposed of in a proper and safe manner. Very few types of medication should ever be flushed down the toilet. Instead, it should either be ground up and disposed of in a sealed bag or returned to the pharmacy.

Finally, it is important not to panic. Most drug recalls happen for minor reasons that are not detrimental to people’s immediate health.