I know that I'm not the only mofo here on a statin, luckily the one I'm on is from a different manufacturer. But those who are need to check their shit!
Over 140,000 bottles of a prescription statin have been recalled due to "failed dissolution specifications," according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforcement report.
Ascend Laboratories of New Jersey pulled Atorvastatin Calcium, a drug sold as a generic version of Lipitor, that were manufactured by Alkem Laboratories of India and distributed nationwide. The recall, issued on Sept. 19, covers tablets packaged in 90-count, 500-count and 1,000-count bottles with expiration dates as late as February 2027.
On Oct. 10, the FDA classified the recalled prescription medication as a Class II recall. The risk classification from the federal agency indicates that the recalled medications could cause "temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences," but that the chances of serious adverse health consequences are "remote."
Statins are the drugs of choice in treating high cholesterol and preventing or reducing heart disease, according to a 2023 study from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.
Dr. Tamanna Singh of the Cleveland Clinic said "about 39 million adult Americans" are on statins, with the largest demographic taking the medication being over 40 years old, on a podcast for the clinic in September. She added that Lipitor, Crestor and their generics, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin, respectively, are the most commonly prescribed statins.
Here's what you need to know about the Atorvastatin Calcium recall.
Ascend Laboratories did not issue a news release with the recall.
USA TODAY contacted Ascend Laboratories and Alkem Laboratories for comment on Thursday, Oct. 23, and did not receive an immediate response.
Over 140,000 bottles of a prescription statin have been recalled due to "failed dissolution specifications," according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforcement report.
Ascend Laboratories of New Jersey pulled Atorvastatin Calcium, a drug sold as a generic version of Lipitor, that were manufactured by Alkem Laboratories of India and distributed nationwide. The recall, issued on Sept. 19, covers tablets packaged in 90-count, 500-count and 1,000-count bottles with expiration dates as late as February 2027.
On Oct. 10, the FDA classified the recalled prescription medication as a Class II recall. The risk classification from the federal agency indicates that the recalled medications could cause "temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences," but that the chances of serious adverse health consequences are "remote."
Statins are the drugs of choice in treating high cholesterol and preventing or reducing heart disease, according to a 2023 study from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.
Dr. Tamanna Singh of the Cleveland Clinic said "about 39 million adult Americans" are on statins, with the largest demographic taking the medication being over 40 years old, on a podcast for the clinic in September. She added that Lipitor, Crestor and their generics, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin, respectively, are the most commonly prescribed statins.
Here's what you need to know about the Atorvastatin Calcium recall.
What statin prescription bottles are under the recall?
The recall covers the following products:| Product Description | Pill count | Lot number |
|---|---|---|
| Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets USP, 10 mg | 90-count bottle (NDC 67877-511-90) | Lot#: 25141249, Exp. Feb. 2027 Lot#: 24144938, Exp. Nov. 2026Lot#: 24144868, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144867, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144458, Exp. Sep. 2026 Lot#: 24143994, Exp. Sep. 2026 Lot#: 24142987, Exp. July 2026 Lot#: 24143316, Exp. July 2026 |
| Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets USP, 10 mg | 500-count bottle (NDC 67877-511-05) | Lot#: 25141249, Exp. Feb. 2027 Lot#: 24144938, Exp. Nov. 2026Lot#: 24144868, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144867, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144458, Exp. Sep. 2026 Lot#: 24143994, Exp. Sep. 2026 Lot#: 24142987, Exp. July 2026 Lot#: 24143316, Exp. July 2026 |
| Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets USP, 10 mg | 1000-count bottle (NDC 67877-511-10) | Lot#: 25141249, Exp. Feb. 2027 Lot#: 24144938, Exp. Nov. 2026Lot#: 24144868, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144867, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144458, Exp. Sep. 2026 Lot#: 24143994, Exp. Sep. 2026 Lot#: 24142987, Exp. July 2026 Lot#: 24143316, Exp. July 2026 |
| Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets USP, 40 mg, Rx Only | 90-count (NDC 67877-513-90) | Lot#: 25140933, Exp. Feb. 2027 Lot#: 25140477, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot#: 24144254, Exp. Oct. 2026 Lot#: 24144163, Exp. Sep. 2026 Lot#: 24143995, Exp. Sep. 2026 |
| Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets USP, 40 mg, Rx Only | 500-count (NDC 67877-513-05) | Lot#: 25140933, Exp. Feb. 2027 Lot#: 25140477, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot#: 24144254, Exp. Oct. 2026 Lot#: 24144163, Exp. Sep. 2026 Lot#: 24143995, Exp. Sep. 2026 |
| Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets USP, 40 mg, Rx Only | 1000-count (NDC 67877-513-10) | Lot#: 25140933, Exp. Feb. 2027 Lot#: 25140477, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot#: 24144254, Exp. Oct. 2026 Lot#: 24144163, Exp. Sep. 2026 Lot#: 24143995, Exp. Sep. 2026 |
| Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets USP, 20 mg, Rx Only | 90-count(NDC 67877-512-90) | Lot #: 25140150, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot #: 25140173, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot #: 25140172, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot #: 24144720, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot #: 24144798, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot #: 24144692, Exp. Oct. 2026 Lot #: 24143755, Exp. Aug. 2026 Lot #: 24143913, Exp. Aug. 2026 Lot #: 24143754, Exp. Aug. 2026 Lot #: 24143047, Exp. June 2026 Lot #: 24142936, Exp. July 2026 |
| Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets USP, 20 mg, Rx Only | 500-count (NDC 67877-512-05) | Lot #: 25140150, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot #: 25140173, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot #: 25140172, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot #: 24144720, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot #: 24144798, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot #: 24144692, Exp. Oct. 2026 Lot #: 24143755, Exp. Aug. 2026 Lot #: 24143913, Exp. Aug. 2026 Lot #: 24143754, Exp. Aug. 2026 Lot #: 24143047, Exp. June 2026 Lot #: 24142936, Exp. July 2026 |
| Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets USP, 20 mg, Rx Only | 1000-count(NDC 67877-512-10) | Lot #: 25140150, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot #: 25140173, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot #: 25140172, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot #: 24144720, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot #: 24144798, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot #: 24144692, Exp. Oct. 2026 Lot #: 24143755, Exp. Aug. 2026 Lot #: 24143913, Exp. Aug. 2026 Lot #: 24143754, Exp. Aug. 2026 Lot #: 24143047, Exp. June 2026 Lot #: 24142936, Exp. July 2026 |
| Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets USP, 80 mg, Rx Only | 90-count(NDC 67877-514-90) | Lot#: 25140249, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot#: 25140247, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot#: 24144999, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144942, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144845, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144713, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144652, Exp. Oct. 2026 Lot#: 24143898, Exp. Aug. 2026 Lot#: 24143412, Exp. Aug. 2026 Lot#: 24143582, Exp. Aug. 2026 |
| Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets USP, 80 mg, Rx Only | 500-count(NDC 67877-514-05) | Lot#: 25140249, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot#: 25140247, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot#: 24144999, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144942, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144845, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144713, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144652, Exp. Oct. 2026 Lot#: 24143898, Exp. Aug. 2026 Lot#: 24143412, Exp. Aug. 2026 Lot#: 24143582, Exp. Aug. 2026 |
What should people do with the recalled medication?
Neither the companies nor the FDA issued guidance on what to do with the recalled tablets. According to GoodRx, anyone affected by a drug recall is advised to check their medication's lot number, contact their pharmacy, contact their prescriber and dispose of the recalled medication.Ascend Laboratories did not issue a news release with the recall.
USA TODAY contacted Ascend Laboratories and Alkem Laboratories for comment on Thursday, Oct. 23, and did not receive an immediate response.
Over 140,000 bottles of cholesterol medication recalled. See affected products.
The FDA said that over 140,000 bottles of the Lipitor generic potentially failed to meet "dissolution specifications."
www.usatoday.com
