Tag: Drug contamination

Several recalls for timolol maleate ophthalmic solutions have been issued in recent years, including multiple notices in 2024 and 2025 by FDC Limited and its distributor Rising Pharmaceuticals. These recalls primarily stemmed from issues with defective product containers, highlighting the need for patients to be vigilant about medication safety.

In 2020, the FDA requested the complete withdrawal of all ranitidine products from the U.S. market, fueling widespread consumer concern about NDMA contamination. This action, along with earlier recalls of blood pressure drugs, raised a crucial question for millions of patients: **What medications have NDMA in them?**

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, unopened eye drops are typically safe for one to two years from their manufacturing date, but once opened, the shelf life shortens dramatically. The question, 'Is it okay to use 2 year old eye drops?' therefore has a simple answer rooted in pharmacology and safety: no, it is not. The risks of contamination and reduced effectiveness are far too high for the delicate tissues of the eye.

In September 2024, over 3 million tubes of Refresh P.M. and Refresh Lacri-Lube lubricant eye ointments were recalled due to a tube seal issue that could compromise sterility. Knowing which lots of Refresh PM were recalled is crucial for consumer safety, as is understanding the reasons behind these and past recalls, such as one in 2015.

In 2016, a Class II recall was issued for nearly 1,500 cases of Lactulose Solution, USP, by its manufacturer, VistaPharm, Inc.. This action addressed the question of **why was lactulose recalled**, specifically citing microbial contamination. The contamination involved the presence of *Burkholderia cepacia* bacteria in the bulk solution.

According to a July 2023 report by Public Health Scotland, illicit tablets known as the “red apple drug” were found to contain the potent opioid tapentadol, causing severe adverse effects including confusion and hallucinations. This exemplifies the extreme danger of contaminated street drugs, which can contain entirely different, and often far more lethal, substances than what is advertised or expected.