The U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) must first approve drugs that are prescribed in the United States. Even so, recalls of human drugs aren’t considered rare – more than 100 drugs were recalled from 2010 through 2012.

Defective drugs

Defective and dangerous prescription drugs can have
adverse side effects

Drug recalls serve as a backup system to protect the public from medications that have proved dangerous after initial FDA approval.

While product recalls help protect those who have never taken a specific medication, those already using potentially harmful medications learn of the threat only after taking the drug – and possibly after harm has already taken place.

FDA recalls most often are voluntary, though the FDA can initiate a recall if a company refuses to act on a potentially harmful product. When a medication has the potential to harm, the FDA issues what is known as a Class I recall, during which the FDA seeks help from the news media to alert those using the medication.

Class II- and III-level recalls are used for drugs that might cause a temporary health problem or violate FDA label or manufacturing laws. News releases aren’t routinely issued for those levels of recalls, but the FDA lists all recalls on its weekly Enforcement Report. An agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the FDA also regulates the most food production, cosmetics, tobacco, and veterinary medicines.

In July 2011, FDA began a pilot program to allow search of recalled human drugs pending classification as a Class I-, II-, or III-level action. These unclassified recalls also are available in the weekly Enforcement Report, under the heading, “Human Drug Product Recalls Pending Classification.”

Here is a list of prescription drugs known to have adverse side effects.

If you learn from a source other than your doctor that you have been using a medication recalled by the FDA, contact your physician immediately.