A growing number of medications have recently been withdrawn from pharmacies and suspended from use in healthcare systems across multiple countries due to serious cardiovascular concerns. Health authorities worldwide have identified a potential link between certain drugs and life-threatening conditions, including blood clots, embolisms, strokes, and heart attacks. Patients and healthcare providers are being urged to remain vigilant and stay informed.
Understanding Thrombi (Blood Clots)
Thrombi are abnormal blood clots that form inside veins or arteries. While blood clotting is a vital process for healing wounds, when clots develop without injury, they can block blood flow to critical organs—leading to:
Pulmonary embolism – a clot in the lungs
Stroke – a clot in the brain
❤️ Heart attack – a clot in the coronary arteries
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – clots typically in the legs
Even a single untreated clot can be fatal. Because of this, any medication associated with an increased risk of clotting is taken extremely seriously by global health regulators.
Medications Under Review or Withdrawal
While specific drug names and formulations vary by region, the most commonly flagged categories include:
Hormonal contraceptives, particularly certain third-generation types
Some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Certain diet pills and appetite suppressants
Rare cases involving some COVID-19 treatments and vaccines
Regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and national health ministries have responded by issuing usage restrictions, recalls, or full suspensions of approvals.
The risk appears to be highest among individuals with pre-existing conditions such as:
