It would be difficult for Ohio residents to read any online news without reading about the opioid crisis going on in the country. People are overdosing and suffering from addictions at an alarming rate. When a patient comes in who appears to be overdosing on opioids, medical personnel may use Narcan, the brand name of naloxone, which is as an antidote. However, right now, that could do more harm than good since the Food and Drug Administration recently announced a recall involving Narcan.
Hospira, a subsidiary of Pfizer, manufactures Narcan. Since the scale of the opioid epidemic became so large and widespread, the drug was made available to families with addicts, emergency rooms and specially trained paramedics. Administering the product as soon as possible can restore normal respiration and prevent brain damage from lack of oxygen and death for many people.
However, the fact that so many people may have access to the product subject to recall could make recalling it problematic. The company discovered that the syringe plunger on some vials manufactured from Feb. 2017 to Feb. 2018 could have “loose particulate matter” present. So far, the company nor the FDA have heard of any adverse health events due to this issue. However, patients could suffer from a myriad of health issues, including some that could be serious.
The Food and Drug Administration often works closely with pharmaceutical companies regarding recalls. However, getting the news out to everyone who may be affected could take valuable time during which a patient could suffer adverse health consequences from the product in question. Anyone in Ohio who fails to hear about an important drug recall in time to avoid serious injury may be able to file pharmaceutical litigation to pursue much needed restitution.