Key Takeaways

Akorn Pharmaceuticals, a generic pharmaceutical manufacturer and distributor that was based in Gurnee, IL, has issued a voluntary recall of various human and animal medications after it filed for bankruptcy and closed shop in February.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the company’s shutdown includes closing its Quality activities program that’s connected with over 70 human drugs and 9 veterinary drugs.

“The discontinuation of the Quality program means the company will not be able to support or guarantee that the products will meet all intended specifications through the labeled shelf life of the product,” the company said in anews release.

Akorn products were distributed nationwide to wholesalers, retailers, manufacturers, medical facilities, repackagers, and consumers online. However, the company stated that they are notifying distributors of the recall and are requesting that they notify their customs, consumers, and retailers.

All recalled products should be destroyed and distribution and use of any remaining product on the market should be stopped immediately, the company said.

Here’s what you need to know about which drugs and products are being recalled and what to do if your medication is one of them, according to experts.

Check the label on your prescription or medication. Almost all medications, whether in a bottle or tube, will have a label that specifies the manufacturer.

Which Medications Are Affected By The Recall?

Here’s a full list of the recalled products:

Analgesics

Analgesics, also known as pain killers, are types of medications used to relieve pain. Some of these drugs can be used to treat pain during medical procedures as well.

Antivirals

Antibiotics

Eye Medications

Hair, Skin, and Nail Medications

These medications can be used to treat psoriasis, red, scaly patches, dry skin on the head or scalp, fungal infections of the nails or toenails, eczema, dry skin, burns, or bites.

Injectables

These injections can be used for various things, including the treatment of high blood pressure, seizures, nausea, and vomiting.

Nasal/Nose Medications

Nasal medications can be used for seasonal allergies, sneezing, or nasal congestion.

Respiratory/Lung Medications

These types of drugs are used to treat different respiratory issues like breathing problems, asthma, wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath.

Stomach/Gastrointestinal Medications

These medications can be used to treat and stop ulcers in the stomach, help with bowel syndrome, soften the stool, alleviate constipation, or help with high blood pressure.

Other Medications

Some of these medications are supplements while others are drugs used to help with seizures, muscle stiffness, anxiety, ear infections, or weight loss.

What Should You Do If Your Medication Is on the List?

The first thing you should do is contact your pharmacist or local pharmacy to determine if there are similar medications that are available on the market, Tsourounis said.

“Usually, the pharmacist would get a notification that the medication is discontinued and they should be able to offer an alternative supplier or alternative product,” she said.

If your pharmacist is unable to find a similar generic medication to the one you are using from another manufacturer, Tsourounis recommends getting in touch with your healthcare provider to discuss if there are any other alternatives available.

Jack Kann, RPh, BS, Director of Pharmacy at South Shore University, told Verywell if Akorn is the only supplier of a specific generic drug, patients will need to have a discussion with their provider to get a new prescription for something else.

“If anyone has any Akorn products at home, call your pharmacy as soon as possible and follow up with your prescriber,” Kann said. “We cannot recommend continuing on with those medications, but they shouldn’t just discontinue the medication either. They need to engage in a conversation with their healthcare professional.”

How Concerning Is the Company’s Shutdown and Drug Recall?

“For other generic manufacturers, it depends on what their manufacturing is and how much extra ability they have in their manufacturing plants to pick up and make additional products,” Kann said. “It may also take some time to ramp up with some of these medications, so product may not be available today, but it may be available within a few weeks.”

What This Means For YouIf any of your medications are recalled, experts recommend contacting your pharmacist to see if there are alternative products or suppliers. If there is no similar generic alternative, you should contact your healthcare provider to discuss other medication options.

What This Means For You

If any of your medications are recalled, experts recommend contacting your pharmacist to see if there are alternative products or suppliers. If there is no similar generic alternative, you should contact your healthcare provider to discuss other medication options.

2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Food and Drug Administration.Akorn issues voluntary nationwide recall of various human and animal drug products within expiry due to company shutdown.Akorn Operating Company.List of human products.

2 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Food and Drug Administration.Akorn issues voluntary nationwide recall of various human and animal drug products within expiry due to company shutdown.Akorn Operating Company.List of human products.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Food and Drug Administration.Akorn issues voluntary nationwide recall of various human and animal drug products within expiry due to company shutdown.Akorn Operating Company.List of human products.

Food and Drug Administration.Akorn issues voluntary nationwide recall of various human and animal drug products within expiry due to company shutdown.

Akorn Operating Company.List of human products.

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