Lipitor recall by FDA of counterfeit lipitor.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on 23 May 2003 the lipitor recall due to counterfeit lipitor.

Albers Medical Distributors, Inc., has voluntarily recalled three lots of 90-count bottles of the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor and is warning healthcare providers and others that these three lots of counterfeit Lipitor represent a potentially significant risk to consumers.

The product was repackaged by Med-Pro, Inc., of Lexington, Neb., and the labels say "Repackaged by: MED-PRO, Inc. Lexington, Neb." in the lower left-hand corner.

While FDA's Forensic Chemistry Center has found that the counterfeit products do contain atorvastatin, the active ingredient of Lipitor, they are not proven "safe" and effective. (To learn about the real safety and the true lipitor side effects, click here.)

As such FDA urged healthcare providers and patients alike to check the packaging very carefully before using this product. Patients who have any of the product (labeled as "Repackaged by MED-PRO, Inc.") with these three lot numbers should not take it, and they should return the product to their pharmacies. (Click here for the lipitor recall official announcement on the FDA's website)

At the beginning 130,000 bottles of the fake drug were recalled but on 18 June 2003, Philadelphi Enquirer reported that the lipitor recall, increased to as many as 200,000 bottles amid a probe of suspected counterfeiting of lipitor.

To learn the naked truth about lipitor's safety, and original lipitor side effects on your health, click here.