On April 25, 2008, Actavis Totowa LLC announced a recall of all lots of a drug known as Digitek sold under the Bertek and UDL Laboratories labels. Digitek, known in its generic form as digoxin, is a drug used to treat congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation. The recall was initiated because of the possibility that some tablets may contain twice the appropriate dosage of the active ingredient.
The active ingredient in digoxin is known as digitalis or digitoxin. It is found in the foxglove plant, which is widely known to be extremely poisonous. Digitalis has been described in medical literature since 1775, and used in folk remedies for centuries before that.
An overdose of digoxin can have severe side effects. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, hallucinations, the appearance of halos or aura around objects, seizures, green- or yellow-tinged vision, irregular heartbeat, and low blood pressure. In some cases, digitalis poisoning can result in death.
Anyone taking Digitek should immediately contact their doctor for medical advice. You should also report the event to the FDA by calling 800-FDA-1088 or through their website. If you or a loved one have been harmed by Digitek, contact us for a free legal review of your potential case.
