Stolen Adderall XR Found in Expired Returns to Shire Pharma–Bar Codes Could Have Been Helpful with Immediate Identification

Most pharma companies will offer refunds on expired drugs that are returned in their original bottles. This is a big problem with thefts and I guess if a criminal doesn’t mind waiting to collect, assuming they are the ones doing the returns, it eventually gets caught as the drug now expired was stolen back in 2008.

Some thieves set up reseller companies and sell the stolen drugs to pharmacies too and that is yet another angle on theft to look out for. These are the lots included and will NOT be eligible for any refund. If anyone finds themselves in possession of these lots, do not use as they could be subject to tampering or not stored at the proper temperatures, etc.

Adderall XR 15mg; Lot No. A38146A; Expiration Date: 02/29/2012
Carbatrol 200mg; Lot No. A40918A; Expiration Date: 04/30/2010
Carbatrol 200mg; Lot No. A40919A; Expiration Date: 04/30/2010
Carbatrol 200mg; Lot No. A41575A; Expiration Date: 05/31/2010

If the bottles would have contained 2D bar codes any cell phone would have enabled immediate identification before they even hit the return department at Shire, making work a little easier for the DEA to perhaps find some stolen drugs too. BD

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Shire Pharmaceuticals has warned that some of its medicines stolen whilst in transit in 2008 are now reappearing on the market as expired returns.

The company suffered a theft of a shipment containing its attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder drug Adderall XR (mixed amphetamine salts) and epilepsy medication Carbatrol (carbamazepine) in October 2008. The load was en route from its manufacturing facility in North Carolina to a distribution center in Kentucky.

SecuringPharma - Stolen Shire medicines found in expired returns