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Over the past decade the use of prescriptions in the United States increased 61 percent to 3.4 million annually according to census.gov statistics.  DrugWatch.com reports that in 2013, Americans spent $360 billion on prescription medication which is $898 per person. At least 70 percent of Americans are on at least one prescription drug and some on at least two says the Mayo Clinic.

Do the benefits of taking the prescription outweigh the risks for the population the drug is intended to treat and for its intended use?  This is the question that the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asks when it is determining whether a drug is "safe"; whether it should be approved, or whether it should be recalled. Once a drug in on the market, the FDA and the drug manufacturer continue to monitor the drug for any unforeseen problems.  A recall may be initiated should some issue develop, and the safety of the medication is in question. When the drug manufacturing company discovers a problem with its drug, it is to voluntarily recall it. Recalls may also occur when the public reports problems with drugs directly to the FDA.

When considering a recall, the FDA considers a number of factors:

Is  it a health hazard. Health hazards are not always realized until after the medication is in wide distribution and becomes popular.   

Is it mislabeled or packaged poorly. There may be confusion involving instructions and/or the dose a patient should take.  A problem with any dosing tool which may come with the medicine may cause patients to over-dose or under-dose. 

Is it potentially contaminated. When a medication is in production, or in the distribution phase, it may become contaminated.  This contamination may be either harmful or non-harmful. 

Is it what it says it is. For example, the packaging may be misleading and cause a patient to think he/she is taking a pain reliever when, in reality, the contents are something else.

Is it poorly manufactured.During manufacturing many things  may happen to cause defects to a medicine's quality, purity, and potency which results in a recall.

To find out about drug recalls, the safety of the medicine you are taking and/or to report problems with medications go to:

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/Drugsafety/DrugRecalls/default.htm

Should you be taking a medication that you later learn has been recalled, you should stop taking it immediately. WebMD recommends that "...if you notice anything unusual with a medication or medicine bottle or wrapper, such as tampering, odd smelling, or contamination, notify your pharmacist before taking it, regardless of whether the drug has been recalled.  Adverse reactions or quality issues can also be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program on the FDA site above. If you have taken a drug that has been recalled and have any unusual symptoms that you suspect may be linked to the medicine, call your doctor immediately."

Naples Personal Injury Attorney, Randall Spivey, says, "Defective drug cases can be highly complex and involve a great degree of medical information with respect to a victim's condition and injuries, as well as how the drug in question interacts with other drugs and affects the human body.  It is, therefore, essential that anyone suffering serious injury because of defective drugs work closely with an experienced attorney."

Florida Defective Drug Attorney ,  Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com. Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.