Anxiety drug Xanax under recall in the USA

Xanax, a drug used to treat anxiety disorders, has been placed under a nationwide recall in the USA

Viatris, the maker of Xanax, recalled the medication last month because of “failed dissolution specifications,” according to a recent notice from the Food and Drug Administration.

This means the pill may not break down in the body and release the drug at the right speed. If the medication doesn’t dissolve correctly, it could reduce its effectiveness.

Last week, the FDA classified the recall as Class II, meaning the affected pills could cause “temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote,” according to the agency.

A Viatris spokesperson told The Independent, “Patient safety and the quality of our medicines are of the utmost importance to Viatris. The voluntary recall of Xanax XR in the U.S. is specific to one lot of one strength (3mg) of the brand product only, and no other batches of the Xanax XR brand product, or its generics, are impacted.”

Viatris said patients don’t need to take any action in connection with the recall and that wholesalers and pharmacies have been provided with instructions on how to return the affected Xanax. The drug maker said they have not received any reports of adverse reactions from the recalled product as of Wednesday.

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Source: The Independent, 16 April 2026