HHP Medication Safety Watch: September 2024

This list contains selected items from the full FDA list of recalls, withdrawals, and alerts for medicines and certain health products. We've provided links to FDA information for each product and its maker. Unless otherwise noted, these actions apply only to the specific brand name of the product listed. Talk to your healthcare provider before stopping or changing any medicines or treatments that they have recommended for you.

• Over-the-counter products and medicines
• Prescription medicines

Over-the-counter products and medicines

Herbal capsules recalled due to contamination with two drugs

• Vail-Bon Jie Yang Wan Capsules (maker: 123Herbals)

Comment: All lots of this product have been recalled by the maker due to contamination with dexamethasone and chlorpheniramine. Dexamethasone is a steroid medicine that can have serious side effects, including increased blood sugar and blood pressure and reduced function of adrenal glands. Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine that can cause drowsiness, loss of coordination, or seizures if too much is taken.

Vail-Bon Jie Yang Wan Capsules are sold as a treatment for itchy skin, including eczema.

Antibiotic recalled due to bacterial contamination

• Atovaquone Oral Suspension, 750mg/mL (distributor: Biopharma Inc.)

Comment: The distributor of this antibiotic has recalled one lot due to contamination with Cohnella bacteria. Taking this medicine could cause a serious or even life-threatening infection, especially among people with a weakened immune system.

Atovaquone is prescribed to prevent or treat a rare type of pneumonia caused by the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii.

Prescription medicines

FDA warning about medicine for menopausal hot flashes

• Veozah (fezolinetant), 45 mg (maker: Amneal Pharmaceuticals, LLC)

Comment: The FDA released a warning about rare liver injury due to Veozah because a patient reportedly developed severe liver disease after taking Veozah for more than a month. Anyone taking Veozah who develops signs or symptoms of liver disease (such as fatigue, nausea, or yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes) should stop taking the medicine and seek medical care. In addition, health care providers are urged to monitor liver tests before and during treatment.

Veozah was approved in May 2023 as a nonhormonal treatment for hot flashes due to menopause.

Read additional issues of HHP Medication Safety Watch