Approximately 593,000 Ventolin HFA asthma inhalers were recalled in the United States because they can leak and fail to spray enough medication in an emergency.
Need a Texas Ventolin Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one was injured when a Ventolin inhaler did not work, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
Ventolin Asthma Inhaler Recall
Ventolin HFA inhalers were voluntarily recalled in the United States in April 2017. It was designated as a Class II recall by the British drug-maker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Class II recalls are issued when a defect is likely to cause temporary or medically-reversible injuries, but not severe injuries.
What Products Were Recalled?
The recall involves three lots of Ventolin HFA 200D inhalers:
- Lot #6ZP9848, expiration date “03/18”
- Lot #6ZP0003, expiration date “04/18”
- Lot #6ZP9944, expiration date “04/18”
Defective Delivery System
GSK received an elevated number of complaints about bulging wrappers on Ventolin asthma inhalers, indicating that the canisters were leaking the propellant gas that delivers the medicine. The inhalers may not deliver 200 metered inhalations of albuterol sulfate as advertised.
If Your Asthma Does Not Work
People with asthma depend on their inhaler to work in an emergency. If the inhaler does not work, they may need emergency medical attention. Asthma attacks can be deadly without treatment. Inhalers with severe leaks may not deliver any medication at all. The leak may not be obvious until the inhaler fails, although the plastic wrapper might bulge at the leak.
Can I Get a Refund?
No. GSK says the defective Ventolin asthma inhalers do not pose a danger to patients. GSK is not offering a refund or asking patients to return the inhalers. The recall only applies to pharmacies.
Consumers with questions can contact GSK’s customer service center at 1-888-825-5249. According to a spokesman for the company:
There is possible risk that the affected inhalers could potentially not deliver the stated number of actuations. We continue to investigate the issue in order to identify the root cause and implement appropriate corrective and preventative actions.”
Safety Risks of Asthma Attacks
- Death
- Extreme difficulty breathing
- Hospitalization
- Low oxygen in bloodstream
- Lung collapse
- Paleness
- Pneumonia (lung infection)
- Respiratory failure
- Skin, lips, and nail-beds have blue tint (cyanosis)
- Severe chest pain
- Tissue death in lungs
- Unconsciousness
What is Ventolin?
Ventolin HFA is a fixed-dose asthma inhaler that was approved by the FDA in 2001. When working properly, Ventolin delivers 200 sprays of albuterol, a medication that opens up airways in the lungs, with 90 micrograms (mcg) of albuterol per spray. It can relieve symptoms of asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
How Much Medicine Gets Into the Lungs?
Tens of millions of people in the United States use metered-dose inhalers like the Ventolin asthma inhalers. These devices deliver specific amounts of medications to the lungs with each spray.
Even with perfect use, asthma inhalers only get about 40% of the medicine into the lungs. In real-world use by people who are having an asthma attack, the actual amount of medication delivered to the lungs drops to 7%.
The amount of medication drops even lower when defective asthma inhalers leak. Even tiny leaks can significantly reduce the amount of medicine that gets into the lungs, especially in an emergency. It can mean the difference between life and death during an asthma attack.
Need a Ventolin Lawyer in Texas?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our Texas Ventolin lawyers for a free lawsuit review.
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