The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

Related Photos

  • Persons taking the drug atorvastatin to help control their cholesterol are advised to check with their pharmacist of physician if they are concerned their particular prescription may be part of a recall. Indian drug manufacturer Ranbaxy has recalled an unknown number of doses because they may contain small pieces of glass. The Daily Southerner

    IMG_1598.JPG
November 29, 2012

On atorvastatin? Talk to physician, pharmacist

Editor and Publisher John H. Walker

TARBORO — If your doctor has prescribed atorvastatin — generic Lipitor — to help you control your cholesterol and you are concerned that you may be one of the between 3 million and 4 million Americans with the possibility your medication may contain particles of glass, you should check with your pharmacist.

Last Friday, India’s Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals, the world’s 12th-largest manufacturer of generic drugs, issued a somewhat vague recall for an undisclosed amount of atorvastatin in doses of 10-, 20- and 40-milligrams.

The recall includes 41 lots of the drug, nearly all with 90 pills per bottle, but three lots contain 500 pills per bottle. It’s unclear how many bottles are in each lot, but medicine batches typically contain many thousands of pills. The 80-milligram strength tablets are not affected.

Randy Shafer, drug information specialist at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, says the safest course to follow is to contact their physician and their pharmacy.

“With the concern, they should see their physician,” he said. “There are several other drugs in that class. Their doctor can help them decide the best course of action.”

Atorvastatin is the generic name for Lipitor, the most successful drug in the history of the pharmaceutical industry. Sales of Lipitor exceeded more than $130 billion. Lipitor’s patent expired last November, leading to the availability of a generic atorvastatin at a lower price.

Witha recall notice posted on its website and a sheet of lot numbers to check for contamination, consumers are advised to talk with their pharmacist to determine the origin of the atorvastatin used to fill their prescription.

A local market check revealed:

• Bryan Drugs — The pharmacist on duty said she was unsure if Ranbaxy atorvastatin was used or not. “Any time we receive a recall notice, we return the drugs.”

• Rite Aid — Unable to get pharmacist to phone.

• Thorne Drugs — Does not use Ranbaxy as its source for atorvastatin.

• Wal Mart — Unable to get pharmacist to phone.

• Service Drug, Pinetops — According to pharmacist Johnny Hogg, Service was dispensing Ranbaxy atorvastatin when notice of the recall was received. “We ordered from another source before we were able to check the affected lot numbers,” he explained. “None of what we had was on the recall list.”

 

Text Only
Local News
  • DWI-Tests.jpg NTSB wants to lower DWI blood alcohol levels

    The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a bold set of targeted interventions to put the United States on course to eliminate alcohol-impaired related crashes. They have given recommendations that call for stronger laws, swifter enforcement and expanded use of technology.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Susan-Barnes-headshot.jpg Measles cases have state health officials concerned

    Twenty-three cases of the measles have been reported in North Carolina in a recent outbreak and has state health officials concerned.
    “It (measles) is a highly contagious disease that is spread in the air by coughing and sneezing,” said Susan Rogerson, nursing director at the Edgecombe County Health Department. Outbreaks of measles in the United States are rare because of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • MLK-Property.jpg County still looking for bids on 41 properties

    While county commissioners have accepted bids on seven foreclosure properties, a total of 41 others remain available for interested parties to submit bids.
    County Planning Director Brian Hassell said interested parties may submit bids for commissioners to consider. If a bid is approved and another party is interested, they may submit an upset bid.

    May 16, 2013 1 Photo

  • Buddy.jpg Scouts honor ‘Buddy’ Hooks

    Try as he might, master of ceremonies Dave Sharpe was unable to talk someone into telling an unexpected story on Ellis “Buddy” Hooks as Hooks was recognized as the 2013 Edgecombe County Distinguished Citizen Award recipient by the Boy Scouts of America.

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • Sheriff_Knight.jpg Sheriff's Department to host junior academy

    The Edgecombe County Sheriff's Department will be hosting a junior academy for students ages 13-18 years old. Sheriff James Knight believes that this is the most important times of a juvenile's life and wants them to learn about the criminal justice system.

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • Andrews.jpg Andrews assumes new position at ECPS Central Services

    John Farrelly, Superintendent of Edgecombe County Public Schools (ECPS), announced this week that Shawna Andrews has been named the Director of Middle Schools and Title I in the Educational Program Services Office at Central Services.
    Andrews, who most recently served as the Director of Elementary Schools and Title I, began her tenure with ECPS in 1995 as a math and science teacher at C.B. Martin Middle School. Following her completion of a Master’s in School Administration, she served as an administrative intern at G.W. Bulluck Elementary, SouthWest Edgecombe High School and Tarboro High School before being named an assistant principal at Tarboro High School in 2003.

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • Big ‘Happening’ set for Tarboro Saturday

    At no time of the year is Tarboro’s Town Common more bustling with activity than the second Saturday in May. It’s that time of year again and the 43rd Annual Happening on the Common is set for 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday.
    “I think we’ve got a good day coming up,” said Carol Banks, event coordinator for the Edgecombe County Cultural Arts Council. “We’ve got record-breaking (number of) vendors. So far we’re up to 56.”

    May 13, 2013

  • Pinetops 300 kicks into gear this weekend

    One of the biggest community events in the southern part of Edgecombe County – the Pinetops 300 – is set for Friday and Saturday at its usual spot – 309 School St. at the ballpark in Pinetops. The truck and tractor pull, South Edgecombe Rural Fire Department’s fundraiser of the year, is a longstanding tradition.

    May 13, 2013

  • BulluckScienceFair-Brake.jpg Bulluck Elementary science fair

    G.W. Bulluck Elementary School hosted a science fair on April 29 for all students in the third, fourth and fifth grade.

    May 10, 2013 1 Photo

  • Daughtridge keynote speaker for ECC graduation Saturday

    “The world out there starts here” is Edgecombe Community College (ECC)’s motto, and for hundreds of students, the “world out there” begins Saturday at spring graduation.
    ECC’s 44th spring commencement will begin at 10 a.m. in the Keihin Auditorium on the Tarboro campus.

    May 9, 2013