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Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for a life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) and access to this product is critical in the event of an emergency. Meridian Medical Technologies, a Pfizer company and Mylan’s manufacturing partner for EpiPen Auto-Injector, has announced a voluntary recall for select lots of EpiPen® (epinephrine injection, USP) and EpiPen Jr® (epinephrine injection, USP) Auto-Injectors. The recalled lot numbers are below and were distributed from December 15, 2015, through July 1, 2016.

Additional Information:

Product: EpiPen® (epinephrine injection, USP) Auto-Injectors and EpiPen Jr® (epinephrine injection, USP) Auto-Injectors

  • Dosage: EpiPen® is 0.15 MG; EpiPen Jr® is 0.3 mg
  • Indication: treatment for a life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
  • Manufacturer: Meridian Medical Technologies
  • Lots impacted for EpiPen®:
    • Lot: 5GN767/Expiry: April 2017
    • Lot: 5GN773/Expiry: April 2017
    • Lot: 6GN215/Expiry: Sep. 2017
  • Lots impacted for EpiPen Jr®:
    • Lot: 5GM640/ Expiry: May 2017
    • Lot: 6GM081/ Expiry: September 2017
    • Lot: 6GM198/ Expiry: October 2017
    • Lot: 5GM631/ Expiry: April 2017
    • Lot: 6GM088/ Expiry: October 2017
    • Lot: 6GM087/ Expiry: October 2017
    • Lot: 6GM082/ Expiry: September 2017
    • Lot: 6GM199/ Expiry: October 2017
    • Lot: 6GM072/ Expiration Date: September 2017
    • Lot: 6GM091/ Expiration Date: October 2017
  • Type of recall: Voluntary
  • Reason for Recall: due to the potential that these devices may contain a defective part that may result in the devices’ failure to activate.
  • Return/Replacement information: Patients with unused EpiPen or EpiPen Jr. Auto-Injector product bearing the recalled lot number should contact Stericycle at 877-650-3494, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET, or Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ET. Stericycle will provide a voucher number to cover the cost for replacing each 2 pak of recalled product. Stericycle will also facilitate the return of the recalled product for Mylan.

Due to a manufacturing issue with one of the nation’s largest suppliers of atorvastatin, shortages may occur.

Express Scripts is working diligently to secure supplies and minimize any impact to you.

In an effort to continue providing you with atorvastatin, Express Scripts may take the following actions until the supply returns to normal:

•It may automatically reduce your prescription amount down to a 30-day supply and adjust your copayment or coinsurance until supply returns to normal.

•When your next refill is due, Express Scripts will automatically ship your prescription for additional supply.  If you do not wish Express Scripts to automatically ship your next order, you must call them to opt out of automatically refilling your prescription.  If you do not notify Express Scripts differently, your atorvastatin will be shipped to you every 30 days until this supply issue is resolved.

•If your prescription is reduced, Express Scripts will resume dispensing atorvastatin in the full days supply as originally written on the prescription, once the supply returns to normal.

Medco and Express Scripts are now one company managing the prescription benefit for those whose health care plans include Express Scripts or Medco.

You should continue to refill your prescriptions as you normally would by using your current prescription drug ID card, member ID number, mail-order refill forms, www.medco.com, and the toll-free member services telephone number on your ID card. 

The combined company is in the process of changing the name on all of its communications to Express Scripts. Until the renaming process is complete, you may see messages from both Express Scripts and Medco. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Who is Express Scripts?

Express Scripts, like Medco, is a prescription benefit manager. The combined company will now be known as Express Scripts.

How did Express Scripts get my prescription information?

Since Medco and Express Scripts have come together as one company to manage your prescription drug benefit, the information Medco had on file for you is now available to the merged company. Express Scripts will protect your private health information with the same level of security you’ve always received.

Do I use the same phone number I’ve always called?

Yes. Continue to call the number on your prescription drug benefit ID card.

Will my member ID number change?

No. Continue using your current prescription drug benefit ID card and the member ID number on the card. 

Can I continue ordering new prescriptions as I normally would?

Yes. Continue to submit new home delivery prescriptions by mail or have your doctor send them via fax or ePrescribing. Also, continue using your member ID number, order forms, www.medco.com, and the toll-free member services number on your ID card.

Can I still order refills on the member website or by phone? 

Yes. Continue to use www.medco.com or call the toll-free Member Services number on your ID card. You can also use the refill forms enclosed with your prescription orders.

Will my home delivery packages look different?

The packaging may look different because your medication may be shipped from an Express Scripts Pharmacy or the Medco Pharmacy, depending on factors including weather, medication supply, and the distance between the pharmacy and the delivery address. There may be differences between bottle caps, bottle colors, and the labels used. You may also notice changes in the materials used to package temperature sensitive medications. There will be no changes to your medications.

Can I still use the same participating retail pharmacy that I do today?

Yes. You can use the pharmacies in the current retail network.

What name changes might I expect to see?

The Express Scripts name and brand will begin appearing on most member communications around Sept.1. Some communications may still reference Medco along with Express Scripts until the name transition is complete. Below are some examples.

* Member website. The address will remain www.medco.com. The branding on the website will change to Express Scripts.

* Letters. Most letters to members will reflect the Express Scripts branding.

* Literature enclosed in home delivery packages. Information related to prescription orders will refer to Express Scripts and Medco.  

* Member Services greeting. When you call, you will hear reference to Medco is now part of the Express Scripts family of companies.

What won’t reflect a name change as of Sept. 1?

Certain communications and organization names such as those listed below won’t change on September 1, but will likely change over time.

* Medco Pharmacy

* Accredo Health Group, Inc. (specialty pharmacy)

* Prescription drug ID cards for existing Medco cardholders

 

The following was received June 11, 2012, from Medco/Express Scripts:

On June 5 Sandoz announced it is conducting a voluntary recall of 10 lots of its generic oral contraceptive Introvale in the U.S., following a recent report of a packaging flaw.

Introvale is an extended-cycle oral contraceptive. Sandoz is not aware of any reports of related adverse events.

The recall was decided after a consumer reported the white placebo tablets were mistakenly in the ninth row (labeled “Week 9”) of the 13-row blister card, rather than in the correct position in the 13th and final row (labeled “Week 13”).

Each three-month blister card contains 84 peach-colored active tablets and seven white placebo tablets in 13 rows. Details on the recall are below: 

Product and strengths: Introvale (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets, USP) 0.15 mg/0.03 mg

Indication: prevent pregnancy

Manufacturer: Sandoz

Date of recall: June 5, 2012

Type of recall: voluntary, patient-level

Reason for recall: packaging error

NDCs of recalled products: NDC 00781 5584 36

Affected lot numbers: The lot numbers involved in the recall are: LF00478C, LF00479C, LF00551C, LF00552C, LF00687C, LF00688C, LF00763C, LF00764C, LF00765C and LF01261C. These lots were distributed only in the U.S. between January 2011 and May 2012

Express Scripts patients impacted: approximately 240

Return/Replacement information: not yet available from Sandoz

Implications to Express Scripts and clients

 Express Scripts is taking the following action in response to this recall:

 · Calling impacted patients informing them about the recall and advising how to detect if they have impacted product. If the patient has affected product, Express Scripts will advise them to begin using a non hormonal form of contraception.

 · Advising patients to contact their doctor to discuss other concerns they may have and to obtain a new prescription for an alternative hormonal therapy because due to this recall, Introvale is currently not available.

 · Advising patients they may contact the Sandoz Drug Information Direct Line at 800-525-2492, 24 hours/day, seven days a week, or via email at qa.druginfo@sandoz.com. Specifics about return and reimbursement have not been released from the manufacturer.

 Developing/distributing a frequently asked questions document for pharmacists and customer service representatives.

Posting web messaging on www.medco.com.

Retail impact:

Retail patients will be managed by retail pharmacies according to their professional practices.

Many UTU members obtain their prescription drugs through Medco, which has been acquired by Express Scripts following Federal Trade Commission approval of the corporate combination.

Notwithstanding the acquisition by Express Scripts of Medco, UTU members receiving mail order prescriptions through Medco will continue ordering and receiving their medications as they have in the past, without any changes.

All packaging and labels will remain the same, as will addresses and phone numbers for pharmacy-related questions and other information. Nor will there be a need to change retail pharmacies or alter home delivery orders in any manner.

The combined Express Scripts and Medco, known as pharmacy-benefit managers (PBMs), now control 40 percent of that market, according to the Economist magazine. PBMs, reported the Economist, encourage consumers to fill their prescriptions through the mail instead of going to a more costly pharmacy. 

Express Scripts recently launched a program, ScreenRx, which utilizes software to sift through hundreds of factors that affect patients and forecast who is most likely to forget a refill or simply stop taking their drugs. The company then plans to contact those patients to help them stick with their doctor’s orders.