A drug used primarily to treat depression was recalled on April 18, after it was found to contain nitrosamine impurities above acceptable levels, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday.
Authorities in Canada on April 17 announced that local manufacturers conducted stability tests on a batch of “pms-Duloxetine Capsules 30mg” and found nitrosamine levels above the daily acceptable intake, which could increase the risk of cancer, FDA Deputy Director-General Wang Te-yuan (王德原) said.
The drug is used to treat major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, diabetic neuropathy and fibromyalgia, the FDA said.
Photo courtesy of the Food and Drug Administration
Taiwan has imported about 60,000 capsules of the problematic batch, Wang said.
As soon as it was notified, the FDA ordered the Taiwanese distributor to withdraw the batch by May 17, as well as to submit a report on the withdrawal and preventive measures, he said.
About 100,000 of the capsules are consumed domestically each year, National Health Insurance Administration data showed, although they only account for 0.3 percent of the market, as there are many alternatives.
Therefore, the withdrawal is unlikely to cause a shortage of the drug.
Taking a drug containing nitrosamine daily for more than 70 years is not expected to increase the risk of cancer, as long as the level is at or below the acceptable daily limit, the US FDA says.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
The New Taipei City Government would assist relatives of those killed or injured in last month’s car-ramming incident in Sansia District (三峽) to secure compensation, Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said yesterday, two days after the driver died in a hospital. “The city government will do its best to help the relatives of the car crash incident seek compensation,” Hou said. The mayor also said that the city’s Legal Affairs, Education and Social Welfare departments have established a joint mechanism to “provide coordinated assistance” to victims and their families. Three people were killed and 12 injured when a car plowed into schoolchildren and their
RSS