Prenatal Vitamins have disappeared!

Anthone and Crookes both prescribe prenatal vitamins for their post op DSers.

For over 4 years I was on Natalcare PicForte.  According to my mail order pharmacy (Express Scripts) and my grocery store pharmacy, it was on backorder indefinitely beginning in November.  So Crookes changed my Rx to Natatab.  And while my mail order pharmacy did not have it in stock, my local pharmacy did.  For only two months.

Now ... neither pharmacy can get ANY prenatals!  Crookes thinks they've discontinued them because insurance doesn't want to pay for them.

What do YOU take?  Are Crookes and Anthone pts the only ones taking prenatals?

Help!

Hey Laurie,

When I was in the hospital in the begining of January for my bowel obstruction, Cindy (Dr. Anthone's PA) told me that he was now recommending a multi-vit or prenate whichever you prefer. So I think you can switch without recourse. From my investigation the major difference is in folate and iron.

Michelle

I get mine from Express Scripts too and there is a note next to it on my prescription list "out of stoc****il mid-February 2009.  I certainly hope they have not been discontinued.

I guess I will call Dr. Anthone's office on Monday.

Red

ETA:  I just sent an email to both ExpressScripts and Ethex (the manufacturer)

Dr. Crookes never put me on prenatals.  He said I could take multi's.  I take 2 per day - 1 in the A.M. and one in the P.M.

I have been taking OTC prenatals for the last 3 years. I am pre op so I only take one a day. I get them from walmart. I think its around $12 for a bottle of 500. I am not sure of the comparison specs but it might be worth looking into.

Hi Laurie -

Not pre-natals here either.  Just 2 Centrums.

Aimee :)

Hmmm... I wonder if Crookes changes his vitamin plan after Anthone left USC.    I got some Women's Over 50 Multi-Vitamins at Costco yesterday.

I will take those until I figure out what is going on.  My labs have been perfect, even iron and I really don't want to change.

I guess I will call Anthone's office and see if he has any suggestions ...

Laurie

Laurie,

Here's a notice that came out on the 5th. Might be helpful to you and or Anthone in arriving at a satisfactory alternative.

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"Bulletin

Prenatal Vitamins – Prescription Products04 February 2009
Products Affected - Description
Products in Short Supply:
Amneal Products
Prenatal Plus, 100 count (NDC 65162-0668-10)
Prenatal Plus, 500 count (NDC 65162-0668-50)

Breckenridge Products
Vinate II (NDC 51991-0178-01) (100 count)
Vinate Ultra (NDC 51991-0154-01) (100 count)
Vinate Calcium (NDC 51991-0469-01) (100 count)

Ethex Products
Advanced NatalCare, Kosher, 90 count (NDC 58177-0350-26)
Advanced-RF NatalCare, Kosher, 90 count (NDC 58177-0458-26)
Cal-Nate, 100 count (NDC 58177-0439-04)
NataCaps, 100 count (NDC 58177-0073-04)
NatalCare Glosstabs, 90 count (NDC 58177-0418-26)
NatalCare PIC, 100 count (NDC 58177-0257-04)
NatalCare PIC Forte, 100 count (NDC 58177-0258-04)
NatalCare Plus, 100 count (NDC 58177-0225-04)
NatalCare Rx, 200 count (NDC 58177-0317-05)
NatalCare Three, 100 count (NDC 58177-0415-04)
NataTab CFe, 100 count (NDC 58177-0328-04)
NataTab FA, 100 count (NDC 58177-0329-04)
NataTab Rx, 90 count (NDC 58177-0376-26)
NutriNate Chewable, Kosher, 90 count (NDC 58177-0351-26)
NutriSpire, 90 count (NDC 58177-0463-26)
Prenatal MR 90 Fe (NDC 58177-0212-04)
Prenatal MTR with Selenium (NDC 58177-0316-04)
Prenatal Rx1 (NDC 58177-0216-04)
Prenatal Rx1 UD (NDC 58177-0216-11)
Prenatal Z (NDC 58177-0275-04)
Ultra NatalCare, Kosher (NDC 58177-0292-04)

Ther-Rx Products
PreCare Chewable (NDC 64011-0024-19)
PreCare Conceive (NDC 64011-0014-19)
PreCare Premier (NDC 64011-0195-19)
Premesis Rx (NDC 64011-0019-19)
PremaCare ONE (NDC 64011-0200-19)
Primacare, 60 count (NDC 64011-0204-28)

Warner Chilcott Products
NataChew, 90 count (NDC 00430-0227-23)

Discontinued Products:
Actavis: Aminate Fe-90, Prenatal Formula 3, Prenatal Plus Iron, Prenatal Rx - discontinued
Amneal: Prenatal 1 plus 1 - discontinued
Azur: Natelle, NovaStart - discontinued
Bio-Tech Pharm: OB-20 - discontinued
Blansett: NutraCare (Blansett) - discontinued
Cypress: ICAR Prenatal, Prenatabs CBF, Prenatabs OBN, Prenatal-H - discontinued
Novavax: Nestabs CBF, nestabs FA, Nestabs Rx - discontinued
Qualitest: Prenatal Plus - discontinued
Sciele: OptiNate - discontinued
Teva: Prenatal Rx w/beta carotene - discontinued
Ther-Rx: StrongStart - discontinued
US Pharmaceutical: Cenogen Ultra - discontinued
Xanodyne: Duet - discontinued


Reason for the Shortage
Many manufacturers have discontinued their prenatal vitamin products. Prescription prenatal vitamins are unapproved drugs.
Amneal, Breckenridge, Cypress, Ethex, Azur, Sciele, Ther-RX, Warner Chilcott, and Xanodyne cannot provide a reason for the shortage.

Estimated Resupply Dates
Ethex and TherRx have recalled their prenatal vitamin products at the wholesale level and cannot estimate a release date for routine supplies. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2009/safety09.htm#Ethex
Amneal (Prenatal Plus), and Breckenridge (Vinate II, Vinate Calcium, Vinate Ultra), expect their products will be available by the end of February, 2009. Warner Chilcott has no estimated release date for their NataChew product..."


See the link below citing the above and a chart at what's currently available by Rx.

http://tinyurl.com/8b667q

Still working the problem on my end here.

Rock

So has the Natal Care Pic Forte been recalled?  Do I need to stop taking it?  Any word on when it will be available?

This really chaps me.  I have been taking this since about six months out and my labs have been great.  I do not want to take something else, plus my insurance covers this. 

Red

Yes, the recall is currently in effect. The FDA and Ethex are suggesting to just to continue taking as prescribed.

No worries,

Rock
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Contact:
Ann McBride, ETHEX Corporation
800-748-1472

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- St. Louis, MO, February 3, 2009 – ETHEX Corporation, a subsidiary of KV Pharmaceutical Company (NYSE: KVa/KVb), is issuing a voluntary nationwide recall of the products identified below (all lots within their expiration dates) at a wholesale level. The Company is taking this action as a precautionary measure, because the products may have been manufactured under conditions that did not sufficiently comply with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP).

Patients who may have these products in their possession should continue to take them in accordance with their prescriptions, as the risk of suddenly stopping needed medications may place patients at risk. Patients should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using these products, or to obtain replacement medications or prescriptions.

Products Recalled to the Wholesale/Distributor Level:

Prescription Prenatal Vitamin Products:

Advanced NatalCare® Tablets
Advanced-RF NatalCare® Tablets
Cal-Nate™ Tablets
CareNatal™ DHA Tablets
ComBgen Tablets
ComBiRx™Tablets
NataCaps Capsules
NatalCare Gloss Tablets
NatalCare PIC Tablets
NatalCare PIC Forte Tablets
NatalCare Plus Tablets
NatalCare Rx Tablets
NatalCare Three Tablets
NataTab FA Tablets
NataTab RX Tablets
NutriNate® Chewable Tablets
NutriSpire™ Tablets
Prenatal MR 90 FE Tablets
Prenatal MTR w/Selinium Tablets
Prenatal Rx 1 Tablets
Prenatal Z, Advanced Formula Tablets
Ultra NatalCare Tablets


Prescription Iron Supplement Products:

Anemagen Caplets
Anemagen Forte Caplets
Conison™ Capsules
Fe-Tinic™ 150 Forte Capsules

Any wholesaler inquiries related to this action should be addressed to ETHEX Customer Service at 1-800-748-1472, faxed to ETHEX Customer Service at 314-646-3788, or e-mailed to [email protected]. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm CST.

ETHEX Corporation has initiated recall notifications to wholesalers nationwide *****ceived any inventory of the recalled products, with instructions for returning the recalled products.

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). At this time, the Company is unable to determine when distribution of these products will resume.

Patients with questions about the recall should call the telephone number above, or contact their healthcare providers. Any adverse reactions experienced with the use of these products should also be reported to FDA’s MedWatch Program by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088, by fax at 1-800-FDA-0178, by mail at MedWatch, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787, or on the MedWatch website at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

The recall announcement is posted on www.kvpharmaceutical.com.



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"UPDATE 02/04/2009] ETHEX Corporation and Ther-RX Corporation expanded the company's previous recall notices to include prescription prenatal vitamin and iron supplement products. See the 02/03/2009 Press Releases for a list of products included in the recall.

[Posted 01/27/2009] FDA notified pharmacists and consumers that ETHEX Corporation has expanded two previous 2008 recalls to include over 60 generic drug products recalled to wholesalers, and two generic drug products, Hydromorphone HCl and Metoprolol Succinate, recalled to retailer level. These generic products may have been manufactured under conditions that did not sufficiently comply with current Good Manufacturing Practices. Some of these products have had specific lots recalled earlier due to defects found, including oversized tablets delivering higher than labeled doses. These additional products are being removed to assure that no other defective products remain in the marketplace. Patients who may have these medicines in their possession should continue to take them in accordance with their prescriptions, as the risk of suddenly stopping needed medication may place patients at risk. Patients should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using these products, or to obtain replacement medications or prescriptions.""