Phenylephrine FDA Alerts

Leiters Health Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Vancomycin IV Bags, Phenylephrine IV Bags, and Fentanyl IV Bags Due to Potential for Superpotent Drug

January 5, 2024 – Englewood, Colorado, Leiters Health is voluntarily recalling 33 lots of products listed below to the user level. The recalled batches of vancomycin IV bags, phenylephrine IV bags, and fentanyl IV bags are being recalled due to the potential for superpotency because they may contain twice the labeled amount of drug. The semi-automated IV bag filling equipment used to fill the recalled batches may not eject the IV bags properly when compressed air tanks become low or a leak was detected, causing the recalled IV bags to be dosed twice.

Risk Statement: There is a reasonable probability that the use of the defective vancomycin and fentanyl IV bags will be associated with life-threatening adverse events. Administration of vancomycin at twice the infusion rate has been associated with low blood pressure, including shock and cardiac arrest, as well as wheezing, shortness of breath, hives, itchy skin and skin redness. Also, overdosing of vancomycin may be associated with acute kidney injury and ototoxicity. Administration of higher doses of fentanyl than intended can result in profound respiratory depression, which may not automatically be mitigated and treated, resulting in potential for delay in care and serious adverse outcomes from hypoxia, including permanent neurologic sequelae and death. In addition to respiratory depression, fentanyl can cause serious cardiac adverse events, such as hypotension, bradycardia, and vasodilation resulting in decrease in cardiac output and cardiac arrest. In addition, administration of a higher dose of phenylephrine than intended may cause higher-than-intended blood pressures in some patients.

To date, Leiters Health has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall.

Fentanyl is an analgesic packaged in an IV bag under codes F3355 and F3342. Phenylephrine is used for perioperative hypotension, hypotension during anesthesia, and shock and is packaged in an IV bag under codes F3360 and F3352.

Vancomycin is used for endocarditis and staphylococcal infections and is packaged in an IV bag under codes F3206 and F3208.

The products were distributed nationwide to hospitals for administration in the hospital. Leiters Health has notified its customers by a letter sent via mail, requiring signature upon receipt, and an email to all affected customers. Leiters Health is arranging for a credit for all recalled products. Customers that have product which is being recalled should cease using it and return it to Leiters Health.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall can contact Leiters Health by phone at 1-800-292-6772 or e-mail at recall@leiters.com Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM MST and 5:30 PM MST. Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using these drug products. Customers will receive return shipping labels for phenylephrine and vancomycin returns via email from Leiters Health to return their products to Leiters Health at 13796 Compark Blvd., Englewood, CO 80112. Customers will receive return shipping labels, along with a DEA Form 222, for fentanyl returns via mail from Leiters Health to return their products to Leiters Health at 13796 Compark Blvd., Englewood, CO 80112.

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

• Complete and submit the report Online
• Regular Mail or Fax: Download form or call 1- 800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Source: FDA

Edge Pharma, LLC Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of All Drug Products Due to Lack of Sterility Assurance

December 4, 2021 – Colchester, VT, Edge Pharma, LLC is voluntarily recalling all lots of all drugs compounded at Edge Pharma, LLC to the consumer level. All products are being recalled due to process issues that could lead to a lack of sterility assurance for products intended to be sterile and could impact the safety and quality of non-sterile products.

Risk Statement: Administration of a drug product intended to be sterile, that is not sterile, could result in site specific infections as well as serious systemic infections which may be life- threatening. To date, Edge Pharma, LLC has not received and is not aware of any adverse events related to this recall.

The products are used for a variety of indications and are packaged in Containers, IV bags, Syringes, Drop containers, Vials, Bottles, and Jars. The affected lots and expiration dates are included in the link listed below. The names and concentration of the drugs are listed in the table following this release.

LINK TO LOT NUMBERS, DISTRIBUTION DATES & DRUG INFORMATION WILL BE ACTIVE ON 12-08-21.

The recall encompasses all compounded sterile and nonsterile drug products, within expiry, that were dispensed from Edge Pharma, LLC. The products subject to this recall were distributed nationwide and directly to customers and/or medical facilities. The products can be identified by the label containing the Edge Pharma, LLC name and logo.

Edge Pharma, LLC is notifying its customers by email, Media and FDA alerts, and direct outreach. Consumers and institutions that have Edge Pharma, LLC products should stop using the products immediately and may either return or discard the recalled lots.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall can contact Edge Pharma, LLC by phone number or e-mail address on Monday-Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, EST. Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using these drug products.

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

• Complete and submit the report Online
• Regular Mail or Fax: Download form or call 1- 800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Phenylephrine Hydrochloride Injection, USP, 10 mg/mL Due to Potential Lack of Sterility Assurance

March 11, 2021 -- Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the voluntary nationwide recall of three lots of Phenylephrine Hydrochloride Injection, USP (10 mg/mL). This product was manufactured by Indoco Remedies Ltd. and distributed by Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Sagent has initiated this voluntary recall of Phenylephrine Hydrochloride Injection, USP to the user level as the result of a customer complaint due to potentially loose crimped vial overseals. A non-integral crimped vial overseal may result in a non-sterile product.

Intravenous administration of a product intended to be sterile that is not sterile could result in serious systemic infections which may be life-threatening. The possibility of a breach in sterility assurance in distributed product, while remote, cannot be eliminated. To date, Sagent has not received reports of any adverse events associated with this issue.

Phenylephrine Hydrochloride Injection, USP is an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor agonist indicated for the treatment of clinically important low blood pressure resulting primarily from the dilation of blood vessels, which decreases blood pressure in the setting of anesthesia.

The product is supplied in 3 mL glass tubular vials. The lot numbers being recalled were distributed to hospitals, wholesalers and distributors nationwide in the USA from 11/17/2020 – 03/08/2021.

Customers are being notified by fax, email, FedEx, and/or certified mail that includes arrangements for return of all recalled product. Customers have been instructed to examine their inventory immediately and to quarantine, discontinue distribution of and return the recalled lots listed above. Customers who may have further distributed this product have been requested to identify their customers and notify them at once of this product recall. Consumers/distributors/retailers that have product which is being recalled should stop using product and return the recalled product. The necessary form by which to document this information as well as other information regarding this recall is available at www.Sagentpharma.com.

Customers or consumers with any questions about returning unused product should be directed to the customer call center at (866) 625-1618 M-F, 8am-7pm CST. Healthcare workers who have medical questions about Phenylephrine Hydrochloride Injection, USP, may contact Medical Affairs (866-625-1618, Option 3) M-F, 8am-5pm CST. Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this product.

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

• Complete and submit the report Online
• Regular Mail or Fax: Download form or call 1- 800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Source: FDA

Injectable Products by SCA Pharmaceuticals: Recall - Potential Contamination

ISSUE: SCA Pharmaceuticals LLC (“SCA Pharmaceuticals”) is voluntarily recalling various lots of injectable products to the hospital level. There is a potential for the products to contain microbial contamination.  See the recall notice for a full list of products.

BACKGROUND: Administration of a drug product, intended to be sterile, that may contain microbial contamination has the potential to result in serious adverse events which may include life-threatening infections. SCA Pharmaceuticals has not received any customer complaints or reports of adverse events related to this issue.

RECOMMENDATION: SCA Pharmaceuticals is notifying its customers via telephone, email and US mail and is arranging for return/replacement of all recalled products. Customers that have product which is being recalled, as indicated in the list above, should discontinue use immediately and return the product to SCA Pharmaceuticals.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall can contact SCA Pharmaceuticals at 877-550-5059, between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm (Central Standard Time), Monday thru Friday. Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this drug product.

Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:

• Complete and submit the report Online: www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/index.cfm
• Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178.

[10/20/2017 - Recall Notice - SCA Pharmaceuticals]