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Audience: Consumers and healthcare professionals
[Posted 08/02/2005] FDA alerted U.S. residents to the recent recall of a batch of counterfeit "Lipitor" (atorvastatin) sold in the United Kingdom (U.K.). The medicine is used to treat high cholesterol. The counterfeit Lipitor 20mg tablets were recalled in the U.K. on July 28, 2005. Health authorities in the U.K. stated that initial results of tests performed on the counterfeit drugs do not indicate that this product poses an immediate risk to patients. Some U.S. residents may have obtained prescription drugs from the U.K. through on-line or storefront operations that do not supply legitimate, FDA-approved products, or through state-run drug importation programs that facilitate the purchase of unapproved foreign drugs. Consumers who purchase drugs through these arrangements may have received these counterfeit products. U.S. patients who have the identified U.K. drugs should stop using them and should consult their physician or pharmacist if they have any questions or concerns.

[July 29, 2005 - News Release - FDA]

Audience: Healthcare professionals, patients and their caregivers
[Posted 07/15/2005] FDA issued a public health advisory to alert health care professionals, patients and their caregivers of reports of death and other serious side effects from overdoses of fentanyl in patients using fentanyl transdermal (skin) patches for pain control. Deaths and overdoses have occurred in patients using both the brand name product Duragesic and the generic product. Some patients and health care providers may not be fully aware of the dangers of this very strong narcotic painkiller. The directions for using the fentanyl skin patch must be followed exactly to prevent death or other serious side effects from overdosing with fentanyl. These directions are available on the Drug Information Page linked below.

[July 15, 2005 - Public Health Advisory - FDA]
[July 15, 2005 - Healthcare Professional Sheet [PDF] [HTML] - FDA]
[July 15, 2005 - Patient Information Sheet [PDF] [HTML] - FDA]
[July 15, 2005 - Drug Information Page - FDA]