• 18
  • April
    2011

The Wall Street Journal reports that Johnson & Johnson has recalled two lots of Topamax after receiving complaints of a strange odor connected to those lots. This most recent recall of Topamax adds to a series of recalls that have taken place since 2009 because of because of quality issues and other problems. The recall comes after recent FDA warnings that the drug increases the risk of cleft palate when taken during pregnancy.

Roughly 57,000 bottles of the popular anti-seizure medication that were shipped back in late 2010 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico have been recalled. Johnson & Johnson, however, believes that less than 6,000 bottles are still present in the marketplace. The recall specifically involves bottles of 100-milligram tablets of the medication.

Sources mentioned that four consumer reports spoke of an "uncharacteristic odor," but that no other adverse consequences have been reported. Apparently, the odor is able to cause temporary gastrointestinal symptoms.

Johnson & Johnson currently has a policy of getting rid of old pallets used to transport and store its products. In an announcement last Thursday, the company said some pallets were mislabeled and that its entire supply chain organization is currently looking to see if any other products have been infected.

Sales for Topamax, which was once a very high demand drug, have fallen greatly in recent times as it no longer the only drug of its kind on the market.

Source: Wall Street Journal, "UPDATE: J&J Recalls Topamax Bottles After Odor Reports," Jon Kamp, 14 April 2011.