Thursday, April 16, 2009

FDA Recalls Zoll AED Plus Defibrillator, Digoxin

ZOLL AED Plus Defibrillator

Audience: Emergency medical personnel
[Posted 04/09/2009] ZOLL Medical Corporation and FDA notified healthcare professionals of a Class 1 recall of ZOLL AED Plus Defibrillators distributed from May, 2004 through February 9, 2009. The recall was initiated because the device may fail to deliver a defibrillation shock, which could result in failure to resuscitate a patient during treatment of sudden cardiac arrest. On February 12 and March 31, 2009, the company sent their distributors and customers recall letters with recommendations and instructions for customers on specific steps to mitigate the identified problems with this device. Please visit http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/recalls/recall-021209b.html and http://www.zollaedplusbatteryhelp.com/

Digoxin, USP 0.125 mg, Digoxin, USP 0.25 mg (Caraco brand)

Audience: Pharmacists, cardiology healthcare professionals, consumers
[Posted 04/01/2009] Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories and FDA notified healthcare professionals of a consumer-level recall of Caraco brand Digoxin, USP, 0.125 mg, and Digoxin, USP, 0.25 mg, distributed prior to March 31, 2009, which are not expired and are within the expiration date of September, 2011. The tablets are being recalled because they may differ in size and therefore could have more or less of the active ingredient, digoxin, a drug product used to treat heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. The drug has a narrow therapeutic index and the existence of higher than labeled dose may pose a risk of digoxin toxicity in patients with renal failure. Digoxin toxicity can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, low blood pressure, cardiac instability, and bradycardia. Death can also result from excessive digoxin intake. A lower than labeled dose may pose a risk of lack of efficacy potentially resulting in cardiac instability. Consumers with the recalled product should return these products to their pharmacy or place of purchase. Please visit http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/caraco03_09.html