Question 1

What is a drug recall in Canada?

Accepted Answer

A drug recall is an action taken by a manufacturer or Health Canada to remove a medication from the market when it is found to be defective, contaminated, or potentially harmful. Health Canada oversees drug recalls and classifies them by severity level (Type I, II, or III) based on the risk to patient health.

Question 2

What should I do if my medication has been recalled?

Accepted Answer

Stop taking the recalled medication and contact your pharmacist or doctor immediately for guidance. Do not throw the medication away until instructed, as your pharmacist may need to verify the lot number. Your pharmacist can help you find a safe alternative or a different lot of the same drug that is not affected by the recall.

Question 3

How are drug recalls classified in Canada?

Accepted Answer

Health Canada classifies drug recalls into three types. Type I is the most serious, where the product may cause serious health consequences or death. Type II means the product may cause temporary or reversible health issues. Type III is the least severe, where the product is unlikely to cause health problems but violates Canadian labelling or regulatory requirements.

Question 4

How can I check if my medication has been recalled in Canada?

Accepted Answer

You can check Health Canada's official recall database, sign up for recall alerts on TransparentMedz, or ask your pharmacist. TransparentMedz can automatically cross-reference your medication cabinet against active recalls and notify you immediately if any of your drugs are affected.

Question 5

How common are drug recalls in Canada?

Accepted Answer

Health Canada issues dozens of drug recalls each year. Most are Type II or Type III recalls involving manufacturing defects or labelling issues rather than immediate safety threats. However, serious Type I recalls do occur, which is why staying informed through recall alert services is important for patient safety.

Drug	Manufacturer	Type	Reason	Date
Metformin HCl 500mg Lots: NX7832, NX7841	Apotex Inc.	Type II	Presence of NDMA impurity above acceptable daily intake limit	2026-03-28
Valsartan 160mg Lots: VL2205, VL2206, VL2207	Teva Canada	Type I	Contamination with NDEA, a probable human carcinogen	2026-03-20
Ranitidine 150mg Lots: RN4410, RN4411	Sandoz Canada	Type I	NDMA levels increase when stored at higher temperatures	2026-03-15
Losartan Potassium 50mg Lots: LS8820	Sanis Health Inc.	Type II	Trace amounts of NMBA impurity detected	2026-03-10
Acetaminophen 500mg (Children's Liquid) Lots: AC3301, AC3302	Pharmascience Inc.	Type III	Dosing cup may have inaccurate markings	2026-03-05
Ibuprofen 200mg Lots: IB9950	Jamp Pharma	Type III	Label missing French translation as required by regulations	2026-02-28

Drug Recall Alerts

Type I

Type II

Type III

Stay informed about drug recalls