Pansy Mae Christian, who suffered from a cardiac condition, died on November 8, 2007 after taking Digitek prescribed by her doctor. On May 2008, Christian’s estate administrator James R. Christian received notice of the drug’s recall and complaints about significant adverse side effects.

On January 15, 2008, Gary Lucineo suffered toxicity and died after taking Digitek prescribed by his physician for congestive heart failure. His estate administrator, Jeanette Lucineo, is suing the companies, claiming they failed to warn users of the drug that the medication was provided for use by the public with twice the approved level of active ingredient. That overdose caused toxicity that the suit claims contributed to Mr. Lucineo’s death.

In April 2005, Actavis Totowa LLC, initiated a nationwide Class I recall of Digitek after it learned that oversized tablets had been distributed, which likely contained twice the level of active ingredient. Taking more than the FDA-approved level of Digitek can lead to Digitek toxicity, also known as digitalis toxicity, a serious and life-threatening complication. Symptoms of digitalis toxicity include unusual visual changes, confusion, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, palpitations or irregular pulse.

If you are taking digitalis medications and symptoms of digitalis toxicity develop, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

SOURCE: Digitek Recall › Two lawsuits filed against makers of Digitek heart medication