Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Glenmark Potassium Chloride Extended Release 750mg Capsules recall: Failed dissolution

Recall published 2+ years ago

Failed dissolution

Glenmark Prescription & OTC drugs — recalled prescription & otc drugsGlenmark Prescription & OTC drugs — recalled prescription & otc drugs (photo 2)
2 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Potency, impurity or stability failure

The recall concerns the strength or purity of the medicine rather than contamination of it, which changes what you should do about a dose you have already taken.

What the notice says: Risk Statement: The failed dissolution of potassium chloride extended release capsules may cause high potassium levels, also known as hyperkalemia, which can result in irregular heart beat that can lead to cardiac arrest.

Why it matters: The product failed a specification test: it may contain more or less active ingredient than the label states, carry an impurity, or degrade before its expiry date. A sub-potent dose can leave a condition untreated; a super-potent one can cause an overdose.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

The risk depends entirely on the drug. For a medicine where dose matters closely — a blood thinner, an anti-epileptic, a thyroid or heart medicine, insulin — talk to your prescriber before changing anything. Seek urgent care if you have symptoms that suggest too much drug, or if the condition the medicine controls starts breaking through.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
June 24, 2024
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Glenmark
Product type
Prescription & OTC drugs
Distribution
Nationwide

Products covered by this recall

Potassium Chloride Extended Release 750mg Capsules, 100 count and 500 count

What the company announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 24, 2024 – Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA, Mahwah, NJ is voluntarily recalling 114 batches of Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Capsules, USP (750 mg) 10 mEq K, to the consumer level. The product is being recalled because of failed dissolution.

Risk Statement: The failed dissolution of potassium chloride extended release capsules may cause high potassium levels, also known as hyperkalemia, which can result in irregular heart beat that can lead to cardiac arrest. For patients who require chronic use of potassium chloride extended-release oral capsules, especially in those patients with underlying comorbidities or conditions that cause altered excretory mechanisms for potassium such as hypertension, heart failure, or renal dysfunction, there is a reasonable probability of developing hyperkalemia that may lead to a range of severity of adverse events from being asymptomatic to more severe potential life threatening adverse events of hyperkalemia such as cardiac arrythmias, severe muscle weakness, and death. To date, the firm has not received any reports of hyperkalemia or serious adverse events from spontaneous sources related to this recall.

Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Capsules are used for the treatment of patients with low potassium (hypokalemia) and are packaged in bottles of 100-count (NDC 68462-357-01) and 500-count (NDC 68462-357-05) capsules.

The Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Capsules being recalled were distributed nationwide to wholesale, distributor, and retail outlets.

The recall includes the lot numbers and expiration dates listed below:

Table for the lot numbers and expiration dates .

The product can be identified through the labels below:

Glenmark is notifying its wholesale and distributor customers by written letters and is arranging for return of all recalled batches. Wholesalers, distributors, and retailers that have the recalled products should discontinue distribution of the recalled product lots immediately and follow the instructions provided in the written recall letter. Wholesalers and distributors should conduct a sub-recall to retail or pharmacy customers.

Consumers that have Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Capsules subject to the recall should consult with their physician or health care provider before they stop using the product. Consumers should also contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this drug product. Consumers should call Inmar Rx Solutions at 1-877-883-9273, Monday - Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm EST for return instructions and for further information.

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm

Regular Mail or Fax: Download form www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 5 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

NDC number

On the carton and again on the bottle or blister label.

  • 68462-357-01
  • 68462-357-05

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 750 mg
  • 100 count
  • 500 count

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Potency

Glenmark — The recall concerns the strength or purity of the medicine rather than contamination of it, which changes what you should do about a dose you have already taken.

  1. Check the lot number on your pack against the codes listed above before you do anything else.
  2. Report any change in how the medicine is working to FDA MedWatch, which is where most of these signals originate.
  3. Do not stop a prescription on your own. For most conditions an uncertain dose is safer than no dose while you get advice.
  4. Call your prescriber or pharmacist and ask whether to swap the lot, re-test, or change nothing.

Getting a replacement supply

Do not let a refund question interrupt your treatment. Deal with the supply first and the money second.

  • Call the pharmacy before you run low. They can see which lot they dispensed to you and will usually swap it the same day.
  • Insurers do not normally count a recall replacement against a refill limit. If one is refused, ask the pharmacist to call it through as a recall override.
  • Over-the-counter products are refunded at the till like any other purchase; the recall notice on your phone is enough to explain the return.
  • If the manufacturer runs a direct reimbursement form, it will be linked from the official notice on this page.

Company contact: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — Consumers: Inmar Rx Solutions, 1-877-883-9273

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Glenmark prescription & otc drugs recalled?

Failed dissolution Risk Statement: The failed dissolution of potassium chloride extended release capsules may cause high potassium levels, also known as hyperkalemia, which can result in irregular heart beat that can lead to cardiac arrest.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

The notice does not publish package codes for this recall. Compare the product name, size and the purchase window against the official FDA — Company recall announcements record, and contact the company if you are unsure.

What should I do with it right now?

Check the lot number on your pack against the codes listed above before you do anything else.

Can I get my money back?

Call the pharmacy before you run low. They can see which lot they dispensed to you and will usually swap it the same day.

Where was the recalled product sold?

It was distributed nationwide.

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