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Only in March, the Main Pharmaceutical Inspector (GIF) issued three decisions to withdraw a medicinal product from the market. All of them concerned drugs that many Poles could have in their home first aid kits, and some of them even managed to take them. Can the use of a drug withdrawn from the market have any consequences for our health? Should we do any research? When should you see a doctor? We asked the drug for answers to these questions. Anna Krzyszowska-Kamińska, Wrocław family doctor.
- Medicinal products withdrawn this month include: a popular painkiller, vit. D given i.a. infants and cholesterol pills
- If you find that the batch number and expiry date of the medicine from our home medicine cabinet match those shown in the recall decision, stop using and dispose of the medicinal product immediately.
- Bow. Anna Krzyszowska-Kamińska: «Usually these are not so important issues that they have a real impact on the health and well-being of the patient and rarely is in any danger. In my 25 years of practice, I have never had any such situation »
- Check your health. Just answer these questions
- More information can be found on the TvoiLokony home page
Medicinal products withdrawn recently from the market
In March 2022, GIF announced the withdrawal from the market of three medicinal products: Vigantol (vitamin D in drops), APAP Intense (an anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug) and Atorvox (a drug for high cholesterol). The first two disappeared from pharmacies due to a quality defect, while the reason for the recall of the third product was a dose error on the drug packagingwhich – according to the GIF – could be misleading and thus pose a threat to the patient’s health safety.
- Check it out: Medicines withdrawn from the market in Poland (CURRENT LIST)
Vitamin D is an extremely important nutrient that should be constantly supplemented in our climatic conditions. It is worth reaching for a product from a proven source. You will find them in Medonet Market.
Earlier (this year), also due to quality defects, the drug used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (Memantin NeuroPharma) and tablets to help you quit smoking without nicotine withdrawal symptoms (Tabex) were withdrawn from the market.
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How do I know if a recalled drug is the one we have at home?
The fact that a given drug is withdrawn from the market and we have it in our home medicine cabinet does not mean that we have to throw it away immediately. The key is to know if the product we have purchased has the same batch number and the same expiry date as on the recalled drug.
To check this, please refer to the GIF decision (the list of decisions on withdrawn drugs with attachments is available at https://rdg.ezdrowie.gov.pl/) and compare the given series and validity with that on the packaging our drug. If it differs, it means that we can safely leave the product at home – the defect was found in a different production series. However, if the data is correct, we should get rid of the medicine at home immediately.
The rest of the text below the video.
Are you taking withdrawn drug? The doctor tells you what to do
It may happen that you not only have a recalled drug at home, but also take it permanently or take it once or several times. In the first case, you should immediately discontinue the drug and contact your doctor (first contact or specialist who prescribed the drug) who will prescribe a replacement. In the second situation, you should also stop taking the product, and in case of doubts (e.g. about your well-being) consult your doctor or pharmacist.
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Should we be concerned about our health? What is the treatment regimen for taking the drug withheld? According to drug. Anna Krzyszowska-Kamińska, family doctor from Wrocław, it all depends on the reason for the withdrawal and whether and what is happening to us.
The reasons for the recall of medicinal products vary widely – from mislabelling to packaging to contaminated samples – so the assessment of the situation is always individual. But usually these are not so important issues that they have a real impact on the patient’s health and well-being, and he is rarely in danger. In my 25 years of practice, I have never had any such situationi. However, if the patient feels very unwell and suspects that the ailments were influenced by the medication he was taking, he should see a doctor or go to the emergency department immediately.
The doctor sensitizes people who take the drug constantly. – Contact your doctor immediately for a prescription for a replacement. This also applies when the drug is simply out of stock in pharmacies. Now, in pandemic times, it often happens that a product is missing across the country, the so-called the export list has over 200 items. Meanwhile, a patient who takes the drug constantly, e.g. due to high blood pressure or diabetes, cannot simply stop the treatment. Then he has to urgently contact us and then we look for an equivalent, and when we have doubts about the substance itself, we change to a drug from a different group – he explains.
Bow. Anna Krzyszowska-Kamińska also reminds that a patient worried about his health condition due to the withdrawn better, can also talk to a pharmacist.
– The doctor, of course, will also help, but not always immediately. We need to refer to the GIF’s decision and check the reason for the recall of a medicinal product, and we can rarely do this while admitting patients, especially when there is a crowd of visits. The patient must be patient or just go to the pharmacy where the pharmacist uses the same database and is able to analyze the document faster and then provide the patient with relevant information – he adds.
Where to throw away unnecessary drugs?
Expired, unused or withdrawn drugs should not be thrown into an ordinary trash can for death, wash basin or toilet. The substances they contain can be very harmful to the environment and contaminate soil and water. In addition, drugs take a long time to decompose, and when thrown away with mixed waste, they can be destructive to plants and animals.
Medicinal products are disposable, therefore they should be delivered to PSZOK (separate municipal waste collection points) or special collection points for this type of waste. A simple way to get rid of unnecessary drugs is also to return them to the pharmacy – most of them have special containers for this purpose.
It is worth remembering that we get rid of drugs without paper packages and leaflets, but in blisters (tablets), bottles (syrups, liquids), sprays (sprays) and tubes (creams, ointments). Dispose of separately used needles, syringes and mercury thermometers.
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