Tag: Drug recall

In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested the withdrawal of bacitracin for injection from the market. This action stemmed from a determination that the drug's risks, including serious kidney damage, far outweighed its benefits for its only approved use. However, this recall does not apply to the topical or ophthalmic formulations, which remain widely available over-the-counter.

The active ingredient in Zantac, ranitidine, was entirely withdrawn from the market by the FDA in April 2020 due to potential contamination with the carcinogen NDMA. This has led many to question, 'Is nizatidine the same as zantac?'

In 2012, a specific generic version of bupropion, Budeprion XL 300mg, was voluntarily withdrawn from the market by its manufacturers, Teva and Impax, after an FDA study confirmed it was not therapeutically equivalent to the brand-name drug. This action led many patients to question why was bupropion taken off the market.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a primary condition treated by ranitidine, affects an estimated 20% of adults in the United States [1.9.1, 1.9.3]. So, **what is the main use of ranitidine?** It was principally used to decrease stomach acid for treating and preventing ulcers and GERD [1.2.1].

In 2008, the pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb announced that Motival (fluphenazine hydrochloride 500µg), a medication used for mixed anxiety and depression, would be discontinued globally for commercial reasons. This decision ended the availability of a fixed-dose combination drug, highlighting shifts in pharmaceutical treatment paradigms.

In April 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took the historic step of requesting the immediate market withdrawal of all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) ranitidine products, commonly known by the brand name Zantac. This definitive action was prompted by growing evidence that the drug was contaminated with a probable human carcinogen called N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).

In a major 2020 safety announcement, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested the immediate market withdrawal of all prescription and over-the-counter ranitidine products, which were commonly known by the brand name Zantac. This action left millions of consumers wondering why is ranitidine no longer used and what prompted the removal of one of the world's best-selling drugs from pharmacy shelves. The withdrawal was prompted by findings of a potential cancer-causing impurity called N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in the medication.

In November 2000, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public warning that led to the voluntary recall of dozens of over-the-counter (OTC) medications, including the combination product Tavist-D. This action, which answers the question, 'Why was Tavist taken off the market?', was based on growing evidence that one of its active ingredients, phenylpropanolamine (PPA), could increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

In September 2023, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee unanimously concluded that oral phenylephrine is ineffective as a nasal decongestant, leading to the removal of countless popular over-the-counter cold medications from store shelves. This decision impacts a significant portion of the cold and flu market, with oral decongestants featuring phenylephrine accounting for roughly $1.8 billion in annual sales.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regularly issue recalls to protect consumers from potentially unsafe products. This leads many to ask what cold medicine was recalled recently, particularly in late 2024 and 2025, due to issues ranging from child-resistant packaging failures to microbial contamination.