The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced that the agency is
working with Abbott Diabetes Care to recall 359 different lots of glucose test 
strips marketed under the following brand names:

•	Precision Xceed Pro; 
•	Precision Xtra; 
•	Medisense Optium; 
•	Optium; 
•	OptiumEZ; and 
•	ReliOn Ultima 

These strips are used with Abbott's Precision Xtra, Precision Xceed Pro, MediSense
Optium, Optium, Optium EZ and ReliOn Ultima blood glucose monitoring systems. As
many as 359 million strips may be affected by the recall. The blood glucose 
monitoring systems are not affected by this recall. The test strips, which were 
manufactured between January and May 2010, are sold both in retail and
online settings to consumers, but are also used in health care facilities.

The test strips with lot numbers that have been recalled may give falsely low 
blood glucose results. False results may lead patients to try to raise their blood 
glucose when it is unnecessary, or they may fail to treat elevated blood glucose 
due to a false, low reading. Both scenarios pose risks to a patient's health. 

FDA has provided specific recommendations for consumers and healthcare 
professionals with regard to the recalled products. These recommendations explain
how to determine whether a particular lot is affected, how to order a free 
replacement set of strips, and how to use recalled strips to reduce the likelihood 
of a false result. 

An estimated 36 million Americans, or one in six people, have purchased 
prescription drugs online without a doctor's prescription, according to research 
presented by The Partnership at Drugfree.org and funded by the Alliance for Safe 
Online Pharmacies, (ASOP), consisting of The Partnership at Drugfree.org, the 
American Pharmacists Association, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, 
Eli Lilly and Co., LegitScript, Merck and NeedyMeds. The nonprofit group noted 
that illegal online drug sellers -- also known as rogue Internet 
pharmacies -- expose millions consumers to the dangers of taking counterfeit and 
unapproved medications.

Eleven companies have come together voluntarily to create a nonprofit 
organization dedicated to improving public health and safety by targeting illegal 
online drug sellers. The companies include American Express, eNom, Inc., Go 
Daddy, Google, MasterCard, Microsoft, Neustar, Network Solutions, PayPal, Visa 
and Yahoo.

Unlike legitimate pharmacies that offer consumers the option of ordering doctor-
prescribed medications over the Internet,  rogue Internet drug sellers 
pose as legitimate web sites that offer prescription medicine for sale without a 
prescription — making it easy for people to unknowingly obtain potentially 
dangerous fake, substandard or unapproved drugs.

Drugs sold on rogue web sites often aren't the same as medicines they can get 
from a legitimate pharmacy and may be ineffective or harmful. "The Alliance 
for Safe Online Pharmacies plans to procure additional research to gain 
insights into why consumers buy online, what kinds of medicines they buy, and 
why some consumers perceive the risks while others don't. 

Dr. Carolyn Clancy highlights the rising numbers of hospital admissions among baby 
boomers and seniors due to problems with medications, and offers helpful advice 
so people can reduce the chances of their medicines harming them. 

One in nine adolescents received a prescription for medications with a high 
potential for abuse in 2007, a rate almost twice the 1994 levels, according to a 
study published in the December 2010 issue of Pediatrics. The researchers did not 
examine the relationship between rates of misuse and the prescriptions. However, 
the authors cautioned that the increase in prescriptions issued to teens for drugs 
such as pain killers and stimulants warrants vigilance. The lead author of the 
study notes the importance of advising teen patients about the risks of controlled 
substance medications. 

Medications for cough, sore throat and flu among the most common to be found 
expired when needed.  Proper disposal of medications is also an issue, according 
to a consumer survey conducted by Walgreens in its 2010 Over-The-Counter 
Household Inventory and Consumer Attitude Study. The study showed that nearly 
40 percent of U.S. households surveyed have at least one bottle of expired over-
the-counter (OTC) medication in the home. Nearly all households polled had OTC 
medications on hand with the most common being pain relievers, cough/cold 
treatments and allergy relief. In individual interviews, most consumers said they 
were surprised to find expired drugs in their home, with half stating they are 
typically not aware a medication is expired until it is needed.

According to the Walgreens study, 55 percent of those surveyed with OTC 
medications in their home said they are likely to knowingly take expired drugs, 
especially within the first few months after a medication has expired. Though most 
parents tend to check expiration dates more frequently, more than a third said 
they have given their children medication that had expired in the previous six 
months.

In addition, when consumers dispose of medication, more than 60 percent of 
those surveyed said they dispose of medications in the household garbage. In 
September, Walgreens launched the first ongoing, nationwide Safe Medication 
Disposal Program, a safe and environmentally responsible alternative way to 
dispose of unused or expired medications. Customers can purchase a specially 
designed envelope available at any Walgreens pharmacy counter that allows them 
to place, seal and mail prescription or over-the-counter medications they no 
longer use for safe, eco-friendly disposal. Controlled substances are excluded from 
this program due to current regulations. Postage is included in the cost of the 
envelope.