Medication Recall Checker: Is My Medicine Recalled?
This tool doesn't search recall data for you. It points you to the official FDA and pharmacy sources and keeps track of which ones you've checked.
Free, no sign-up. Nothing you enter leaves your browser. Updated .
Where should you actually check?
Answer one question to get the right starting point.
Do you have the exact drug name, strength, and the lot number or NDC from the label in front of you?
A checklist for where to look, not a determination about your specific medication. If you find a match, see the “what to do next” guidance below before you change anything about how you're taking it.
How to use it
- Say whether you have the exact drug name, strength and lot number or NDC in front of you. These are printed on the label.
- If you don't, read the note it shows and identify the medicine first, then continue to the checklist.
- Work down the four sources in order and tick each one as you finish: the FDA recalls page, the MedWatch e-list, the pharmacy that filled it, and the manufacturer's own site.
What your result means
The tool only tracks your progress. It can't tell you whether a particular bottle is affected. The FDA notes that not every recall is announced on FDA.gov or in the news, which is why the checklist includes your pharmacy and the manufacturer.
Even with all four ticked, treat a clean search as reassuring, not final. Your pharmacist can check your exact lot against the notices they receive.
If you find a match
Read the notice closely. Some say to stop right away, and others say to keep taking the medicine until you get a replacement. Call your pharmacist or prescriber with the lot number before you change anything. If you think you had a reaction, tell your prescriber, and you can also report it to the FDA through MedWatch. In an ingestion emergency, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (U.S.).
Our guide on how to check if your medication has a recall or FDA warning explains recall classes and what a notice usually says. If a refill simply looks different, see why a pill can look different after a refill.
Frequently asked questions
Does this tool tell me if my medicine is recalled?
No. It has no live recall data. It's a checklist of the official sources to search, so you can check the right places for your exact drug and lot number.
What do I need to check for a recall?
The exact drug name, the strength and the lot number or NDC from the label. Recalls are matched to those details, not to how a pill looks.
What's the difference between a recall and an FDA warning?
A recall pulls or corrects a specific batch because of a problem such as contamination or a wrong strength. A warning means the drug stays on the market but the FDA has new risk information. They appear on different FDA pages, so it's worth checking for both.
Should I stop taking my medicine if it's recalled?
Not on your own, unless the notice tells you to or you're having a reaction. Call your pharmacist or prescriber with the lot number and follow what they say. Stopping some medicines suddenly can be riskier than continuing briefly.
What if I only have a loose pill or a worn label?
Identify it first, because a recall check only works once you know the drug, strength and lot. Your pharmacy can often look up the fill record even when the label is gone.
Related guides
- How to Check if Your Medication Has a Recall or FDA WarningNews about a drug recall or a new FDA warning is easy to miss, and not every recall makes headlines. Here's exactly where to check for your specific medication, and what to do if you find a match.
- Why Does My Pill Look Different After a Refill?A different color, shape or imprint at refill time is usually a generic manufacturer swap, not a mistake. Here's how to tell the difference and what to check before you take it.
- Faded or Missing Prescription Label? How to Identify MedicationAn old prescription bottle with a label you can't read isn't the same problem as a loose pill with no container at all. Here's where the identification actually starts, and why it usually isn't with the pills themselves.