Arthritis Drug Recalled Due to Contamination

October 6, 2000

Friday, October 06, 2000

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A single lot of the drug etodolac is being

recalled due to fears of possible contamination, ESI Lederle, a St. 's,

Pennsylvania-based unit of American Home Product's Wyeth-Ayerst business,

announced on Thursday.

Etodolac is a generic version of Wyeth-Ayerst's Lodine, which is used for

arthritis and pain management. According to ESI Lederle, the recalled lot,

number 9991052, was first distributed on October 18, 1999. There were

approximately 4.2 million capsules included in the lot.

Results from routine testing revealed that some of the capsules may have

been tainted with acebutolol hydrochloride, a beta-blocker drug used to

treat heart conditions.

" We encourage patients who are currently taking etodolac capsules to take

immediate action, " Dr. Philip J. de Vane, ESI's medical director, said.

" They should contact their pharmacist to determine if they received capsules

from the recalled lot, " he continued. " If the lot number cannot be

determined, it should be assumed to be from that lot. "

A Wyeth-Ayerst spokesperson told Reuters Health that there have been no

reports of illnesses associated with the recalled lot.

The etodolac capsules are manufactured in the same facility as acebutolol

hydrochloride products, but it is still not clear how the contamination may

have occurred, he said.

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