“More than 140,000 bottles of America's most prescribed drug are being recalled over fears the medication may not work properly.

Ascend Laboratories, based in New Jersey, has pulled its statin atorvastatin calcium, a generic version of Lipitor, from shelves because its tablets may not dissolve correctly.

The alert affects bottles of 10mg, 20mg, 40mg and 80mg tablets that were sold nationwide in 90-, 500- and 1,000-count bottles available by prescription. …”

DailyMail article:
https://mol.im/a/15223981

Several months ago my GP changed my prescription from Atorvastatin to Crestor.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Pipe Smoker,

Thanks. It took some searching to determine if the atorvastatin I have that was provided by the VA was affected, but I finally decided it wasn’t.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
Ascend Laboratories, based in New Jersey, has pulled its statin atorvastatin calcium, a generic version of Lipitor, from shelves because its tablets may not dissolve correctly.

To be clear, this is one of 74 manufacturers of generic atorvastatin according to pharmacompass. Sigforumites need to check the manufacturer of their generic atorvastatin.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
Several months ago my GP changed my prescription from Atorvastatin to Crestor.

Consider Crestor as a potential source if you notice new conditions or issues even 6 months later. When I changed from generic Lipitor to actual patented Crestor, I had a 6 month delay and my multi-year migraine roller coaster started.

^^^^^
Thanks. I’ll be watching for migraines. No new issues of any sort, so far.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
Ascend Laboratories, based in New Jersey, has pulled its statin atorvastatin calcium, a generic version of Lipitor, from shelves because its tablets may not dissolve correctly.

To be clear, this is one of 74 manufacturers of generic atorvastatin according to pharmacompass. Sigforumites need to check the manufacturer of their generic atorvastatin.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
Several months ago my GP changed my prescription from Atorvastatin to Crestor.

Consider Crestor as a potential source if you notice new conditions or issues even 6 months later. When I changed from generic Lipitor to actual patented Crestor, I had a 6 month delay and my multi-year migraine roller coaster started.

Lipitor and Crestor are two different chemicals, atorvastatin vs. rosuvastatin. If there are side effects from swapping, it really has little to do with whether it’s generic or name brand.

quote:

Originally posted by Dwill104:
Lipitor and Crestor are two different chemicals, atorvastatin vs. rosuvastatin. If there are side effects from swapping, it really has little to do with whether it’s generic or name brand.

thanks Captain obvious. Plus, the adjectives were clearly not the point I was making to the OP.

OP, thanks for the heads up. That is one of the medications that I take.

^^^^^
Call your pharmacy to see if your particular atorvastatin is subject to the recall.

Ascend Laboratories is the affected brand, but probably only certain lot numbers or intervals of production.

I’m watching this now, I’m on generic Crestor but the hospital has put me back on generic Lipitor since my arrival Tuesday night.

I think that some meds are going to be tweaked once I get released, maybe today!

quote:

DailyMail article: The tablets were made by Alkem Laboratories, based in India, and then repackaged and sold under Ascend Laboratories in the US, which is owned by Alkem.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
Thanks. It took some searching to determine if the atorvastatin I have that was provided by the VA was affected, but I finally decided it wasn’t.

I have often wondered if the military and VA source any drugs offshore. Probably not China; there are laws against that.

Im on Atovarstatin for years now. Though mine is from a different manufacturer. So Im good. Thanks for the heads up from the OP. I dodnt even hear anything about this other than his post.

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:
I have often wondered if the military and VA source any drugs offshore.

That’s a question I hadn’t considered. Without thinking about it I assumed that because so many products that are very important for everything from everyone’s daily lives to critical national defense are acquired from foreign sources these days, it was quite possibly true of the medications I take.

According to an answer from AI Copilot and based on its NDC (National Drug Code), the atorvastatin I am prescribed by the VA is manufactured in the US. That of course also assumes that manufacturer information and claims are valid.

As an FYI for anyone still interested, the original linked article also has a link to the specific FDA notice for this “event,” that lists the specific National Drug Codes for the medications involved:
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov...ts/ires/?Event=97639

Shouldn't the pharmacies that dispensed the 'bad' Atorvastatin be notifying their customers?
They should be able to easily determine who received it.

quote:

Originally posted by WaterburyBob:
Shouldn't the pharmacies that dispensed the 'bad' Atorvastatin be notifying their customers?
They should be able to easily determine who received it.

Agreed!

Seems like bad pills continue to be sourced from India and chicom. What penalties are being paid by the supply chain involved? Whatever it is, it isn't enough. Bad meds and vitamins coming from india and chicom need to stop.

“New Jersey-based Teva Pharmaceuticals US and distributor Amerisource Health Services voluntarily recalled more than 580,000 bottles of various strengths of prazosin hydrochloride, mainly sold under the brand names Minipress and Prazin, a blood pressure drug taken by 500,000 Americans. …”

DailyMail article:
https://mol.im/a/15246239

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The VA docs write a lot of scripts for Prazosin.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by sigfreund:
Thanks. It took some searching to determine if the atorvastatin I have that was provided by the VA was affected, but I finally decided it wasn’t.[/QUOTE
Good news!

I had mine checked at CVS and mine were fine since there are several manufactures.

Poor dissolving? Crack / crush them up some before ingestion.

IMHO I would worry more about purity of chemical composition, rather than physical characteristics.