Embeda pain reliever recalled

Consumer Reports News: March 16, 2011 07:55 AM

All doses of the prescription drug Embeda, a potent combination of morphine and naltrexone used to treat moderate to severe chronic pain, have been recalled, according to an announcement from the manufacturer, King Pharmaceuticals. The company said that while the drug is not not known to pose any immediate risks to patients, it failed stability tests, which measure how it responds to changing temperature, humidity, and light levels.

Don't abruptly stop taking the medication, since that can trigger withdrawal symptoms. Instead, check with your doctor about switching to another medication. That will likely be necessary in any case, as the company anticipates that Embeda will be unavailable for many months while it resolves the problems that led to the recall.

--Steve Mitchell, associate editor, Consumer Reports Health Best Buy Drugs

See our Best Buy Drug report on opioids for more about their safe use.

—Joel Keehn