Medical device and drug recalls, whether voluntary or forced by the FDA, ensure patient safety.
Here is a breakdown of six recalls reported by Becker's Hospital Review or published by the FDA in the last two weeks.
1. Recalled drug: Montelukast sodium tablets
Reason for recall: Bottles contained the wrong drug. The sealed bottles were supposed to contain 30 Montelukast sodium tablets, but instead contained 90 Losartan potassium tablets.
Date of recall: Aug. 31
Drugmaker: Camber Pharmaceuticals
2. Recalled device: CyPass Micro-Stent
Reason for recall: A long-term safety study revealed that patients with the stent experienced statistically significant endothelial cell loss, compared to the group that underwent cataract surgery alone.
Date of recall: Aug. 29
Devicemaker: Alcon, a subsidiary of Novartis
3. Recalled drugs: All nasal products and baby oral gels
Reason for recall: Expanded recall due to possible microbial contamination at the drugmaker's Florida plant.
Date of expanded recall: Aug. 28
Drugmaker: Product Quest Manufacturing
4. Recalled drug: Hydrochlorothiazide tablets
Reason for recall: Labeling mix-up. The affected product was supposed to contain hydrochlorothiazide tablets, but instead contained spironolactone tablets.
Date of recall: Aug. 27
Drugmaker: Accord Healthcare
5. Recalled drug: Children's Advil suspension-bubble gum flavored
Reason for recall: Dosage labeling error. The dosage cup provided in the package is marked with teaspoons, while the instructions on the label describe dosage information in milliliters.
Date of recall: Aug. 27
Drugmaker: Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, the pharma giant's over-the-counter division
6. Recalled drugs: 32 children's medications, ranging from cough relief, sleep aids and stress relief
Reason for recall: Microbial contamination
Date of recall: Aug. 22
Drugmaker: King Bio