FDA investigating fake and expired drugs at two Baltimore pharmacies

The Food and Drug Administration has issued an alert about two pharmacies in Baltimore suspected of distributing expired or counterfeit drugs. The agency said patients who have received the following drugs should contact their physician for new prescriptions:

• Lisinopril (20 milligrams)
• Guaifenesin/Dextromethorphan (600 mg and 1000 mg)
• Gabapentin (100 mg, 300 mg and 400 mg)
• Metoprolol (50 mg)

• Nifedipine (30 mg)
• Diclofenac Sodium (30 mg)
• Glucophage (500 mg Extended Release)
• Glucovance (125 mg and 500 mg)
• Glipizide/Metformin (2.50 mg/250 mg)
• Furosemide (20 mg)
• Tamoxifen Citrate (10 mg)
• Metformin HCl ER (500 mg)
• Calcitrol (0.25 micrograms)

The two pharmacies in question are at 8035A Liberty Road and 5900 Reisterstown Road and are managed by Pamela Arrey, R.Ph. According to Joseph Kum, an attorney for Arrey, his client denies the charges and maintains that the drugs under investigation were obtained from charitable organizations and were never meant for interstate commerce. Rather, some drugs were in drums being prepared for inspection and some drugs were in totes getting ready for destruction. They were not on the pharmacies' shelves for sale, he said. FDA said pharmacies outside of these two locations show no evidence of being involved.

Drug Topics contacted Medicine Shoppe's parent, Cardinal Health, for a response and got the following reply:"Medicine Shoppe International, Inc. (MSI), the franchisor of Medicine Shoppe pharmacies, has learned that two of our system's Baltimore-area pharmacies, located at 8035A Liberty Road and 5900 Reisterstown Road, were recently found by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to have sold expired medications. Medicine Shoppe pharmacies are franchised businesses and the individual pharmacist or franchisee who owns the store is responsible for all business decisions and practices. MSI is taking this matter very seriously. The health and welfare of our customers is our system's main priority, and we do not condone these types of infractions by our licensed pharmacies. Medicine Shoppe pharmacists have received national recognition as dedicated professionals who provide excellent customer service."

To see more Daily News articles, click here.

To go to the Drug Topics homepage, clickhere.