ETHEX Corporation has recalled more lots of generic medicines because some pills may be oversized.  In addition to previous recalls of morphine sulfate and dextroamphetamine, the new recall includes two cardiac drugs and additional lots and dosages of morphine and dextroamphetamine.

There is a possibility that some tablets may be oversized and contain up to double the amount of active medicine.  Overdoses can cause serious medical problems including difficulty breathing and low blood pressure for morphine and rapid heart beat and high blood pressure for dextroamphetamine.

If you or the patient you are caring for has difficulty breathing, faints, becomes unresponsive, or has other signs of morphine overdose, call 911 and get medical help. Read the rest of this entry »

ETHEX Corporation has recalled three lots of dextroamphetamine sulfate 5mg tablets which may contain oversized pills and up to twice the dose of the drug. ETHEX discovered a small number of oversized tablets in lots that had not yet been distributed.  While there have been no reports of oversized tablets from consumers, Ethex is recalling three lots of the drug as a precaution.

The round, orange tablets have ETHEX on one side and 311 on the other.  Lots being recalled are numbers 77946, 81141 and 81142. Read the rest of this entry »

The FDA announced yesterday, July 21, 2008, that they have traced the Salmonella SaintPaul strain that has caused a widespread outbreak of gastrointestinal illness in nearly 1,300 identified people in 43 states.  A sample of jalapeno pepper found in a produce distribution center in McAllen, Texas, is a genetic match for the Salmonella SaintPaul responsible for the outbreak. Read the rest of this entry »

More than 810 cases of salmonella related to tomatoes have been reported to the FDA, according to the latest update on June 27th. Ninety-five people have been hospitalized.  Cases have been identified in 36 states and the District of Columbia.  While there have not been any confirmed deaths so far, there is one case of a man with cancer who died while infected and salmonellosis may have contributed to his death.

Plum, Roma, and round red tomatoes have been associated with the particular strain of Saintpaul Salmonella infection.   The FDA is advising consumers eat these types of tomatoes only if they can be certain they were grown and harvested in one of the areas that have not been associated with the outbreak. If you have tomatoes and don’t know where they came from, go back to the store where you bought them and ask. Read the rest of this entry »

President Bush signed the Fiscal Year 2008 emergency supplemental appropriations bill today. We are happy to report the bill included an additional $150 million for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Click here to read a statement from Senator Byrd (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.