Sometimes the pain is unbearable. Taking a little extra pain medication seems like a good idea. However, with this latest recall, getting a little extra could potentially be deadly.
According to an announcement from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Hospira, Inc. has issued a voluntary nationwide recall of their morphine injections because the syringes may be over-filled. The action was prompted following a customer report of two Carpujects syringes containing more than the 1 mL labeled fill volume.
Opioid pain medications such as morphine can have life-threatening consequences if too much is taken. Reactions include respiratory depression (slowed breathing or suspension of breathing) and low blood pressure.
The recall involves one lot of Morphine Sulfate Injection USP, 4 mg/mL (C-II), 1 mL fill in 2.5 mL Carpuject, NDC 0409-1258-30.
The recalled Hospira injection is a prefilled glass cartridge that is used as part of the Carpuject™ Syringe system. The lot number involved is 10830LL and the expiration date is April 1, 2013. Morphine Sulfate Carpujects 4 mg/mL are packaged in Slim-Pak® tamper detection packages; each box contains 10 Carpujects (NDC 0409-1258-30).
Hospira advises consumers to contact their physician or healthcare provider if they experience any problems with the recalled morphine. Hospira also advises anyone with inventory of the recalled injection to stop its use and distribution, quarantine the product immediately, and call Stericycle, toll-free, at 1.888.912.7088 to arrange for the return of the product; replacement product from other lots is available.