If you’re one of the roughly 120 million Americans that the CDC says have high blood pressure, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of this—still, it’s worth checking your supply of a widely prescribed medication for blood pressure, heart failure, and chest pain, as the Cleveland Clinic notes this treats.
In a daily report, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration reveals that 112,327 bottles of what appears to be generic Metoprolol Succinate made by Teva Pharmaceuticals have been recalled nationwide in extended-release tablet form. The recall affects multiple dosages of the drug (millgrams, or mg): 25, 50, 100, and 200. One hundred-tablet bottles as well as 1,000-tablet bottles have been recalled.
The FDA lists “Failed Dissolution Specifications” as the finding that spurred the event. FDA figures for the National Library of Medicine have explained: “In vitro dissolution testing is an important tool used for development and approval of generic dosage forms … for stability and quality control purposes for both oral and non-oral dosage forms.” The method can help assess how effectively a drug breaks down within the body, whether it delivers the drug to the body at the intended time, and whether it may interact with other consumed substances, such as alcohol.
The recall was first issued on January 29 and now has been assigned a Class II designation by FDA experts, signifying “a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
Identifying lot numbers and corresponding dosages:
Metoprolol Succinate ER – 25 mg
Lot numbers: 0715J251, 0716J251, 0717J251, 0715J252, 0716J252, 0717J252
Metoprolol Succinate ER – 50 mg
Lot numbers: 0486G251, 0487G251, 0488G251, 0486G252, 0487G253, 0488G252
Metoprolol Succinate ER – 100 mg
Lot numbers: 0718J251, 0729J251, 0730J251, 0718J252, 0729J252, 0730J252
Metoprolol Succinate ER – 200 mg
Lot numbers: 0686H251, 0687H251, 10688H251
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