Dollar General and Dollar Tree were just two more of the retailers that sold eight different brands of recalled product.
![Over 14 Million Pain Medications Sold at Walmart, CVS, Amazon, and More Have Been Recalled](https://f-cce-4124-v1.hlt.r.tmbi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-1878347043.jpg)
Over 14 Million Pain Medications Sold at Walmart, CVS, Amazon, and More Have Been Recalled
![Over 14 Million Pain Medications Sold at Walmart, CVS, Amazon, and More Have Been Recalled](https://f-cce-4124-v1.hlt.r.tmbi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-1878347043.jpg)
National data published in 2023 suggested that almost 52 million Americans experience regular pain. In addition to traditional over-the-counter pain creams and oral medications, pain patches are a popular method of delivery for individuals who want to “set it and forget it” to manage their symptoms for hours or days at a time.
However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recalled more than 14 million pain patches sold nationwide. Each of the medicated patches contains analgesic ingredients, intended to relieve discomfort in the muscles, joints, or nerves when applied to the skin.
The announcement suggests at least 12 million of the 14 million recalled pain patches were distributed under the brand name ABSORBINE Jr., which is widely sold at Walmart, CVS, Amazon, H-E-B, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and various other retailers. However, several other brands are also implicated in the recall, which includes 11 products and eight brand names in total:
- ABSORBINE JR. Extra Large BACK PATCH, Menthol 5%, 1 extra large patch per box, Distributed By: Absorbine Jr., LLC, Chattanooga, TN 37402 UPC 8 89476 41218 6, UPC 8 89476 41236 0
- ABSORBINE JR. ULTRA STRENGTH PAIN PATCH, Menthol 6.5%, 1 patch per box, Distributed By: Absorbine Jr. LLC, Chattanooga, TN 37402 UPC 8 89476 41318 3, UPC 8 89476 41336 7
- ABSORBINE JR. PAIN RELIEVING KNEE PATCH, Camphor 7%, Menthol 7%, packaged in 1 patch (UPC 8 89476 41251 3) and b) 6 patches (UPC 8 89476 41306 0), Distributed By: Absorbine Jr., LLC, Chattanooga, TN 37402
- THERACARE MAXIMUM STRENGTH PAIN RELIEF 4% LIDOCAINE PATCH, a) 1 patch (NDC 71101-001-24, UPC 8 45717 00878 5) and b) 6 patches (NDC 71101-001-06, UPC 8 45717 01056 6), Manufactured for: Veridian Healthcare, LLC, Gurnee, IL 60031
- THERACARE Cold Hot Medicated Patch, Menthol 5%, 5 patches per box, Manufactured for: Veridian Healthcare, LLC, Gurnee, IL 60031 NDC 71101-954-05, UPC 8 45717 00818 1
- HealthWise PERIOD PATCH Menstrual Pain Relief, Menthol 10%, 10 patches per box, Manufactured for Veridian Healthcare, LLC, Gurnee, IL 60031 NDC 71101-947-10, UPC 8 45717 01072 6
- EQUATE MAXIMUM STRENGTH LIDOCAINE PAIN RELIEVING PATCH Lidocaine 4% Topical Anesthetic, 6 patches per box PATCHES, LIDOCAINE 4%, Distributed by: Walmart Inc., Bentonville, AR 72716 NDC 79903-106-06
- LILAS Feminine Pain Relief Patch, Menthol 10%, a) 5 patches per box (UPC 7 87099 48212 1) and 10 patches per box (UPC 7 87099 48211 4), Distributed by: Lilas Wellness, Inc., Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105
- JR WATKINS COOLING PAIN RELIEF PATCHES, Menthol 7.5%, 5 patches per box, Distributed By: J.R. Watkins, LLC, Oakland, CA 94612 UPC 8 56294 00878 5
- CHEEKY BONSAI PAIN RELIEF PATCHES, Menthol 10%, 4 patches per box, Distributed by Cheeky Bonsai, San Francisco, CA UPC 8 60006 57564 9
- PARCHE LEON PAIN RELIEVING HOT PATCH, Camphor 3%, Menthol 1.25%, Capsaicin 0.025%, 6 patches per box, Distributed by: Pharmadel LLC, Georgetown, DE 19947 NDC 55758-039-01, UPC 8 59424 00433 6
The FDA’s warning was announced on October 24, and on November 22, the agency assigned the case a Class II risk level. This indicates that the products pose a moderate to high risk to the public’s health, and may cause temporary or reversible adverse health effects. The FDA generally does not consider Class II drugs to pose a risk of severe harm or death.
The reason for the recall is listed as “CGMP Deficiencies,” meaning the manufacturing company—Unexo Life Sciences Private Limited, a company based in New Delhi, India—has reportedly fallen out of compliance with Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP). The FDA’s notice does not specify how manufacturers failed to reach quality standards.
“CGMP provides for systems that assure proper design, monitoring, and control of manufacturing processes and facilities. Adherence to the CGMP regulations assures the identity, strength, quality, and purity of drug products by requiring that manufacturers of medications adequately control manufacturing operations,” the FDA explains.
A brief online search suggests these are widely used products that consumers have trusted. The ABSORBINE JR. back patch on the recall list has a 4.5-star average rating from more than 3,700 Amazon customers at press time.
If you have purchased any of the affected products, authorities advise you throw them away or return them to your place of purchase. If you experience any adverse effects, contact your doctor and report the problem online via the FDA’s MedWatch Voluntary Reporting Form.
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