The risks of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, psoriasis, arthritis and other diseases are significant, and the side effects from cancer treatments can also be dangerous. Sometimes patients—and even their doctors—have no control over the progression of the disease or the impact of cancer treatments. However, patients and doctors trust that pharmaceutical companies are going to provide safe products to administer medications.
Unfortunately, Mylan Pharmaceutical, Inc., recently issued a nationwide recall of injectable medications used to treat ovarian cancer, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and other conditions because of significant risks to patients.
Mylan Issues Voluntary Recall Of Injectable Drugs
Mylan first announced a nationwide voluntary recall of certain lots of various injectable medications on April 23, 2015. The recall was issued because of “the presence of visible foreign particulate matter observed during testing.” Doctors and hospitals were advised to immediately stop using the medications included in the recall. On June 8, 2015, the recall was expanded to include additional lots of the injectable drugs. Doctors and hospitals were once against advised to immediately stop using the affected medications and Mylan sent a letter to distributors and customers to arrange for the return of all recalled products.
Products Included in the Mylan Recall
The products involved in the April 2015 or June 2015 recall included:
Gemcitabine for Injection
Gemcitabine injections are used to treat ovarian cancer, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. As of June 2015, 12 lots of this type of injection have been recalled by Mylan. The lot numbers include 7801396, 7801401, 7801089, 7801222, 7801273, 7801084, 7801110, 7801221, 7801398, 7801406, 7801427, and 7801284. Two of these lots, 7801084 and 7801110, have Pfizer Injectables labels. They were distributed in the United States between January 2014 and February 2015.
Carboplatin Injection
This type of injection is used to treat advanced ovarian carcinoma. The recalled lot, Lot 7801312, was distributed in the United States between August and October 2014
Methotrexate Injection
This medication can be administered intramuscularly, intravenously, intra-arterially, or intrathecally and is used to treat neoplastic diseases, severe psoriasis, and adult rheumatoid arthritis. The lots that have been recalled, Lots 7801082 and 7801421, were distributed in the United States between January and December 2014. One of the lots has a Pfizer Injectables label.
Cytarabine Injection
Cytarabine injections are used to treat acute non-lymphocytic leukemia. The lot included in the recall, Lot 7801050, has a Pfizer Injectables label and was distributed in the United States between May and July 2014.
As a patient, you may not know the lot number of your medication. However, your doctors should be able to get that information for you if you have any concerns.
Potential of Severe Health Consequences With Mylan Injectables
While Mylan has not yet reported receiving any accounts of adverse events related to its recall of injectables as of June 2015, there are serious health consequences that could result when an injectable with foreign particulates is administered to a patient. Some of those risks depend on the manner in which the medication was administered and may include:
- Intrathecal administration: Permanent impairment of body function.
- Intravenous administration: Potential damage or obstruction to blood vessels which could induce emboli, particularly in the lungs; if a right to left cardiac shunt is present, the particulate may lead to arterial emboli and result in stroke, myocardial infarction, respiratory failure, and loss of renal and hepatic function or tissue necrosis; local inflammation; phlebitis; and allergic response or embolization in the body and infection.
- Intra-arterial administration: Damage to blood vessels in the distal extremities or organs.
- Intramuscular administration: Foreign-body inflammatory response, with local pain, swelling, and possible long term granuloma formation.
For some patients, these health consequences may be life-threatening.
Contact Kentucky Drug Injury Lawyers at Gray & White Law
If you’ve been hurt or if a loved one has been killed because of a foreign particulate in a Mylan injectable, then you need help. You deserve to be compensated for your injuries or your loss. The experienced drug injury lawyers of Gray and White know how to pursue fair and just recoveries against large companies. We will give you the personal attention that you deserve while we fight hard for your fair recovery. Please call us today at 888-450-4456 for a free consultation with one of our Louisville attorneys.