Got this letter in the mail from CVS pharmacy today:
"On December 23,2010, American Regent issued a voluntary recall of sodium bicarbonate injection 7.5% and 8.4% mL vials. This recall was issued because some vials may have particulates. Serious side effects after use could include damage to blood vessels in the lung, localized swelling, and granuloma formation. Granuloma is a medical term for a roughly spherical mass of tissue forms when the immune system attempts to surround substances that it believes are foreign but it is unable to eliminate. Granulomas often form around items like infectious organisms such as bacteria and fungi as well as other materials such as splinters and suture fragments.
Our records show you recently received a compounded prescription that may have contained this product.
This does present a potential health hazard or safety risk to patients who may be using products affected by this recall.
Please call your doctor right away for advice if you are using a product that is affected by this recall. Your doctor is familiar with your medical history and can suggest the best treatment option for you. Blah, blah, blah, call this number with questions..."
Excuse some cussing. FVCK! We are between pediatricians due to insurance issues, DD took that stuff for two months, and she's only a fvcking infant!
Fvckity fvckity fvck. She'd be having breathing problems by now if hers was contaminated, right? She's got a cough, but I think she has the cold DS and I had last week.
Re: OMFG. DD's Prevacid compounding solution got recalled.
I would definitely call your pharmacist and pediatrician.
I'm not a doctor, but reading that it sounds to me like the concern would be more for people who are injecting the medicine because you are injecting something with a solid in it which could lodge in the blood supply. KWIM? If you had it compounded, I'm guessing your DD swallowed it so maybe not as big of an issue. (I hope.)
I don't always have the best luck with CVS, but the pharmacists at Tschiffley Pharmacy on 19th St. in DC do a lot of compounding and were always very helpful when I had a PICC line with IV meds.
If she's been taking it for 2 months, I think she would've shown symptoms by now if there was a problem with her medication.
I'm not an expert by any means, but it sounds like those adverse reactions would be more likely if someone was injecting the drug as opposed to taking it orally. Here's the FDA info on the recall.
By the way, I think it really sucks that it took CVS almost 2 months to give you this information. The FDA safety alert was posted on December 29.
I just called my husband and told him to get the mail - apparently we got the same letter. Thanks for posting. I'm going to call the pharmacy now.
ETA - just got off the phone w/ CVS Pharmacy - my branch said they never had any of the product that was recalled. Might want to call yours (where you get it filled) to find out more.
this just made my heart skip a beat because that H takes her Prevacid compounded with sodium bicarb.
i'm hoping it's not an issue since we didn't get hers filled until january, but i'm going to call cvs right now....
hope it is not a concern for you and that you get some answers soon for peace of mind!