There probably aren't many of you who use Mestinon Syrup, but, if you do, I wanted to make you aware of a problem with it.

The product that has expiration dates of 02/16 (Lot #8072560) and 04/16 (Lot #8073759) smells and tastes like celery flavored swamp water, with a hint of mold. Yum.

It's supposed to smell and taste like raspberry.

I've already contacted Valeant Pharmaceuticals and they'll be dealing with it. If not, I'll be contacting the FDA (might anyway).

I thought I'd better put this info out there, just in case anyone is taking it and haven't opened their bottles yet! If you have those expiration/lot numbers, contact both Valeant at 866-246-8245 and your pharmacy. They actually want people to open the bottles in order to get new product to replace them (and to make sure they have the same issue).

It's a good thing I keep a couple of extra bottles, just in case!

Annie

thanks ill keep a watch for this as I get 3 bottles (1 pint each) per month

my latest lot # is 8071064

Dave, I get mine 6 months at a time, which is why I had later lots. If they don't pull this junk off the market, I will contact the FDA. They will be analyzing my lots soon and I'll keep you updated.

Annie

Well, I received the "replacement" product today and it has the same exact smell and taste.

Lot #8073760 Exp. 04/16

They obviously did not smell or taste the product before sending it.

A verbal and written report was made to the FDA.

Annie

After mailing and faxing a letter to the CEO of Valeant, they are finally showing signs of attempting to solve this situation. So, for those of you who take the Syrup, such as you, Dave, they will hopefully be taking care of this issue soon.

Good thing, too, because I'm almost out of the drug. I don't really want to spend the holiday in a hospital!!!

Annie

I have no idea if they'll take those lots off of the market (they did not say during our long conference call), but they did show signs of "getting" why taste (and smell) matter in a product such as this, particularly when they promised a raspberry flavor and that's not what was in those lots.

Besides, what myasthenic can swallow something so horribly pungent? Kind of makes the whole point of needing to have a syrup moot, especially for children.

Perhaps they should hire someone with MG to do quality control tasting and smelling of their Mestinon Syrup lots.

This has been an exhausting, and annoying, process, but at least it had a good outcome.

I've asked for the conclusions of the examination of the product, but who knows if I'll get the truth.

Annie