Drug Safety and Recall Information

Gateway Health Plan^® is committed to providing our members with the highest quality of care. In order to do so, we find it necessary to provide you with drug safety information. Drug safety information can come in the form of drug safety alerts or Medication Guides.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves Medication Guides, which are handouts that come with specific drugs you get at the pharmacy. The FDA requires Medication Guides be given with these drugs to provide patients with information about the drug to prevent serious side effects. All medication guides provided by the FDA can be found at this link:
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm085729.htm

Drug Recalls and Withdrawals

Gateway Health Plan^® has been notified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the medications will no longer be available due to safety reasons.

If you are currently taking any of these medications, Gateway Health Plan^® will contact you and your physician to make you aware of this drug withdrawal. In the meantime, it is suggested you do the following:

1. Call your doctor right away. You and your doctor should talk about if you should stop taking the drug immediately. Your doctor may suggest another drug that is safe and effective for treating your condition.
2. If you have questions about the right way to dispose of the drug, call the pharmacy that filled the drug for help.

Your doctor will be able to answer your questions about how this may or may not have an effect on your health. There are covered alternatives that may be available to replace the drug that has been withdrawn from the market. If your doctor has questions about coverage of an alternative drug that has been or will be prescribed for you, your doctor can call our pharmacy services department.

If you have any questions or concerns about this matter, please call our member services department at 1-800-685-5209, 8:00am-8:00pm, 7 days a week. TTY users should call 1-800-654-5988.