recall at Rite-aid

[solocanoejake]

I went to pick-up my refill and was given Toprol XL instead of Metropal. The druggist said it was recalled. Does anyone know why?

[grangermike]

No, but yesterday, 11/14/08, I couldn't get any of the metoprolol, they'd all been recalled.
Another China fiasco??????

[Carol from NY]

I recently was switched from Toprol XL 100 to the generic brand (made by Par Pharm). It was horrible. My BP went up, tightness in my head, racing heart, etc. I just got approved to go back on the brand name.(I had to pay for the initial script until the insurance approved it)$73.00!!! They will reimburse me, though.

I've been reading over all the comments here and the ones below. It's insane, what they try to do. I could have had a heart attack, or stroke! I felt like I wasn't taking any medication at all! After one day back on the brand name, I feel great!

[Phil from Fairfax]

The generic recall was for the pills mfg by Sandoz in NC. At least that's all I could find. After two weeks on it I started experiencing slight dizziness. I just started back on brand name and hope the symptoms stop.

[a friend]

apparently there has been a drug recall of alot of the generic meds bought by Rite Aid for their customers...is that med made by Ethex Corp? What a name, in light of the circumstances!

Anyway, type in Ethex in the search on this blog, and you will see it all...I didn't hear metoprolol mentioned yet...I just stopped taking metoprolol a few months ago with no increase in my BP...who knows what we get these days??

[Ben]

I was supposed to pick up my metoprolol and before I do, I had a message from Right Aid pharmacy to call them up. When I did and talked to the pharmacist asking the reason why of the recall, he was insisting that he is not sure and he doesn't know!!
I am taking this medication for years and I am starting to get worry. Please post, if you have any information.Thanks.

[JD in Kirkland]

I also was told by Rite Aid that my refill of metoprolol (generic for Toprol XL) was recalled but the pharmacist did not know why. I had to pay $45 for brand name Toprol XL instead of $8 for the generic which I had been getting for the past 6 months. So I asked another pharmacist at Kroger stores why would metoprolol be recalled and he had not been advised of this by the FDA. Said drugs are USUALLY recalled because someone died...not the information I was looking for...! I'm interested in other comments on this.

[Jim]

I'd say that Rite-Aid and CVS have recalled generic Toprol manufactured by Sandoz and Ethex because of all the problems that people have had. Also possibly because of the report that Consumer Labs did about generic Toprol.

Its a shame that there are no public announcements about these recalls. It protects the manufacturers and does not help all the people who have had problems.

There are some people in my family that discount all the problems that I had with Ethex metoprolol and instead say that I am just anxiety prone. So I am really looking for some public reports that legitimize my claim of the problems I had.

[Bob in Chesapeake]

I was told that it was recalled too. My pharmacist switched me to brand name for no charge until they could get in a replacement. Go figure.

[Sherry in Seattle]

I had been ill for about a month and the Doctors couldn't figure out why. Nausea, sweats, dizziness, lightheadedness, itching, rash, over all malaise, racing heartbeat, insomnia, higher then normal BP, anxiety etc.

Now I am attibuting all things to the Generic Topral XL! After many blood tests the doctor was at a loss as to what was/is wrong, now when I go back today for the results of my new round of tests, I am going to tell him about the information I have read about this drug recall and that I feel that I have been having a reaction to that medication !!

I had just picked up my new prescription of the Generic Topral XL and was told by the pharmacist about the recall, but they wouldn't tell me anything more. I think it should be part of their job to protect the population.

[Michelle from CT]

about a month ago I ended up in the ER b/c of pain in my chest, numbness in my arm and rapid heartbeat. they could not find anything wrong. I have been on the generic topral for a couple of years without a problem. Since that time I have continued to have a rapid heartbeat even on the meds. I refilled my prescription yesterday and found out about the recall and took my first new pill today, will see if that straightens things out. anyone found anything about the recall, I can't find a thing online??

[Sherry in Seattle]

Michelle from CT wrote:

about a month ago I ended up in the ER b/c of pain in my chest, numbness in my arm and rapid heartbeat. they could not find anything wrong. I have been on the generic topral for a couple of years without a problem. Since that time I have continued to have a rapid heartbeat even on the meds. I refilled my prescription yesterday and found out about the recall and took my first new pill today, will see if that straightens things out. anyone found anything about the recall, I can't find a thing online??

I have been trying to find details about the recall all day, I want to take copies of any article to my doctors appt today - I also have been on Toprol XL for years, but in the last 30-45 days I have been having weird symptoms and thought I was going nuts!- This can put answers to so many things now.... If anyone finds more articles, please post the links here!

[Gilbert]

I, too am experiencing the same adverse symptoms as all of you who have switched from Toprol XL to Metoprolol. Explore the site below and you will find a link to the actual warning letter from the FDA to Sardoz advising them to recall the product. I showed it to my pharmacist who didn't have a clue about the reason for the recall. I suggest you print it out and show your pharmacist (and doctor) as well.

http://www.drug-injury.com/druginjurycom/2008...

[Gayle]

I stopped by Rite-Aid yesterday to refill my metoprolo prescription and was told about the recall. When I questioned him regarding why the recall, he too said he didn't know. I thought this to be blatantly irresponsible. As a consumer, I should be informed of any problem regarding a recall. I can't believe Rite-Aid doesn't require information concerning a recalled medication from a manufacturer. Impossible. Why are they keeping this info from us?

[Beverly]

I stopped at Rite-Aid to get my refill
of Metoprolo (Toprol) and the Pharmacist said it was recalled by the FDA because the pill didn't dissolve fast enough for their rules. I have been noticing that I have been having heart palpatations, tiredness, and heart pains as most of you describe here. Rite-Aid gave me 5 pills of Toprol to hold me over until their shipment came in, but it never came in. They called my doctor and she changed my prescription to Toprol 25 mg
twice a day instead of the time released tablet. I'm just worried that the Toprol we have all be taking has done some damage to my heart and other organs.

[Nancy]

Sunday past I experienced the same 'story' as most here...my med recalled. I asked why and by whom, they couldn't (or wouldn't) tell me. I was given the same as Beverley..2 x 25mg. instead of 50mg until Dec. 19th. when they would 'fill the 50mg'. I, too, knowing Toprol didn't have many good write-ups on forums etc., anyway, was very concerned. Problem being, nobody tells you a thing but expects you to continue taking the med, even if under the brand name. So I wrote Rite-Aid corp. and the response was it had been forwarded to upper management for a response. This was Monday. Wednesday I called the corp. I WAS going to get an answer! They forwarded all of my queries and I will say that by evening on Wednesday I had received a response plus a copy of the recall from Sandoz. Reason? "deficiencies in documentation practices and in-processing controls" which tells us what? Nothing! Today I'm now going to my pharmacy to ask which 50mg they will give me in Dec. but seeing my cardiologist in Dec and will ask about this. Seriously considering changing pharmacy, too. I do a blog site wwww.maat45.blogdumps.net and will update on there. Good luck and good health to all of you.

[Nita]

I went to pick up my prescription too today and the pharmist stated that it could no be refill because it was recalled I was taking metoprol for blood pressue does anyone know what the recall is all about is my health in danger and the FDA is not telling the patients why this drug was recalled....concerned!!!!! if you know why please respond!

[Bill]

Been taking Metoprolol 50mg for a couple years. Same results as everyone else when I tried re-filling. Told there was a re-call. Looked it up at FDA.Org and found out about mis-labelling. See link: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/enforce/2003/EN...

[Jim]

Bill wrote:

Been taking Metoprolol 50mg for a couple years. Same results as everyone else when I tried re-filling. Told there was a re-call. Looked it up at FDA.Org and found out about mis-labelling. See link: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/enforce/2003/EN...

That link is old....2003....this recall is different and there is no FDA information about it, except for the FDA letter to Sandoz back in August. But that letter did not mention any recalls, only production and documentation problems.

[sharon from michigan]

ive been having terrible flasing headaches had a mri then found out i had had a stroke a small one i guess then found out rite aid recalled toprol xl the blood pressure medicine i was taking because it was double the dose it was suppose to be took the recalled meds for a month now its back to normal dose and im starting to feel better anyone know about this i want to find out for sure if it was double dosed at least then i will be sure please answer what you think