Enquiries jump after Prexige recall

Medicines Line, a national information service funded by National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS), has reported a 50% increase in calls following the recall of the drug Prexige by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

NPS chief executive officer, Dr Lynn Weekes, said “a lot of people just don’t know what to do and don’t know where to go. They are aware of a drug that may be recalled and are anxious and concerned that it may be their drug”.

“Half the calls about the recall were not about Prexige, but were related to osteoporosis and osteoarthritis and similar sounding medications.

“People taking Prexige want to know: what do I do now, what was the problem and what does that mean for my future health?

“We advise people to follow the advice of the TGA, which is to stop taking Prexige.

“The recall was due to TGA receiving 10 reports (six in six weeks) of adverse reactions to Prexige, including two deaths and two patients requiring liver transplants.”

NPS is currently running a national awareness campaign titled ‘Get to know your medicines’ to increase consumer awareness and understanding about the medicines they are taking in order to minimise the possibilities of side effects and interactions.