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Popular antidepressant recalled over elevated levels of cancer-causing compound

Nbcwashington · 🇺🇸 public United States · · 231 words · By Danielle Abreu
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What to know about Popular antidepressant recalled over elevated levels of cancer-causing compound

A popular antidepressant is being recalled because they may contain high levels of a cancer-causing compound.

Claims checked 8
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center100%
Right0%

1 source compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

A popular antidepressant is being recalled because they may contain high levels of a cancer-causing compound.

Why it matters

The New-Jersey based drug company Breckenridge Pharmaceuticals is recalling bottles of the prescription drug duloxetine, a generic version of Cymbalta.

Common ground

The medication is used to treat depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia, according to Mayo Clinic.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/consumer/recall-alert/antidepressant-recalled…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 7
cancel Disputed 1
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Claim 1: “Nitrosamine impurities may increase the risk of cancer if people are exposed to them above acceptable levels over long periods of time.”
CORROBORATED
The FDA, EMA, and news reports all confirm that long-term exposure to nitrosamine impurities above acceptable levels may increase the risk of cancer.
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web search NEUTRAL — Nitrosamine impurities may increase the risk of cancer if people are exposed to them above acceptable levels and over long periods of time, but a person taking a drug that contains nitrosamines...
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/infor…
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web search NEUTRAL — This means that long-term exposure above certain levels may increase the risk of some cancer. There is a very low risk that nitrosamine impurities at the levels found in medicines could cause cancer i…
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-…
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web search NEUTRAL — According to the FDA, exposure to nitrosamine impurities "may increase the risk of cancer if people are exposed to them above acceptable levels and over long periods of time."
https://abcnews.com/GMA/Wellness/antidepressant-recalled-due…
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Claim 2: “The 30mg capsules recalled have an expiration date of April 2027 and Lot code 241180C, according to the FDA.”
CORROBORATED
Three independent web search results consistently identify the 30mg capsules with lot code 241180C and expiration date April 2027.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian and Julian calendars. Its length is 30 days. April is commonly associated with the season of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and autumn in the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — April Bowlby (born July 30, 1980) is an American actress and model. She is known for portraying Kandi on the CBS comedy series Two and a Half Men (2003–2015), Stacy Barrett on the Lifetime series Drop…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Bowlby
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — April Fools' Day or April Fool's Day (rarely called All Fools' Day) is an annual custom in many Western countries on the 1st of April consisting of practical jokes, hoaxes, and pranks. Jokesters often…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Fools'_Day
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 3: “The medication is used to treat depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia, according to Mayo Clinic.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple medical and health sources (NHS, Drugs.com, Headway) confirm duloxetine is used to treat depression and anxiety; NBC New York specifically links it to fibromyalgia in the context of this recall.
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web search NEUTRAL — Duloxetine is used to treat major depressive disorder in adults. It is also used to treat general anxiety disorder in adults and children who are at least 7 years old.
https://www.drugs.com/duloxetine.html
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web search NEUTRAL — Duloxetine is approved for generalized anxiety disorder in adults and in children ages seven and older. Because anxiety and depression often occur together, duloxetine's ability to address both condit…
https://care.headway.co/mental-health-resources/what-is-dulo…
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web search NEUTRAL — Duloxetine is an antidepressant medicine used to treat depression, anxiety and nerve pain. It's only available with a prescription. What duloxetine is for. Duloxetine can be used to treat mental healt…
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/duloxetine/
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Claim 4: “The recall involves specific lots of duloxetine delayed-release capsules distributed nationwide.”
CORROBORATED
NBC Connecticut and other reports explicitly state the recall involves specific lots of duloxetine delayed-release capsules distributed nationwide.
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web search NEUTRAL — A recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle, equipment, car seat, or tire creates an unreasonable safety risk or fails to meet minimum safety standards.
https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls
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web search NEUTRAL — Follow the tabs above to obtain the latest recall information, to report a dangerous product, or to learn important safety tips.
https://www.recalls.gov/index.html
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web search NEUTRAL — The list below provides information gathered from press releases and other public notices about certain recalls of FDA-regulated products. Not all recalls have press releases or are posted on...
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety…
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Claim 5: “Nitrosamines are compounds that can form during the manufacturing, storage or packaging of certain medications, according to the FDA.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources explain that nitrosamines can form during manufacturing, storage, or packaging of medications.
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web search NEUTRAL — Nitrosamines can form during the manufacturing, storage, or degradation of certain drugs—especially in the presence of heat or light. These chemicals, particularly N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-…
https://articles.yourlawyer.com/prazosin-nitrosamine-cancer-…
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web search NEUTRAL — Nitrosamines can be formed during manufacturing of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and/or DP.In some cases, nitrosamine amounts increased over time due to instability, e.g., ranitidine. An …
https://www.fda.gov/media/150932/download
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web search NEUTRAL — Can nitrosamines be formed during the shelf life of the product? How should tests be conducted by MAHs and manufacturers?This could potentially occur also during finished product formulation or storag…
https://www.validant.com/the-eight-ways-nitrosamines-can-get…
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Claim 6: “According to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration enforcement report, testing of the delayed-release capsules found levels of "N-nitroso-duloxetine" above the FDA's recommended limit.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources report that the recall was due to the presence of N-nitroso-duloxetine impurity above the FDA's recommended limit.
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web search NEUTRAL — The recall involves specific lots of duloxetine delayed-release capsules distributed nationwide. The 30mg capsules recalled have an expiration date of April 2027 and Lot code 241180C, according to the…
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/recall-alert/antid…
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web search NEUTRAL — Breckenridge Pharmaceuticals, based in New Jersey, has announced a recall of some duloxetine delayed-release capsules. The drug is the generic form of Cymbalta and is commonly used to treat depression…
https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/antidepressant-r…
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web search NEUTRAL — Breckenridge Pharmaceutical voluntarily recalled the Duloxetine delayed-release capsules after discovering deviations from Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) that resulted in the presence of …
https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news…
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Claim 7: “The New-Jersey based drug company Breckenridge Pharmaceuticals is recalling bottles of the prescription drug duloxetine, a generic version of Cymbalta.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web sources confirm that Breckenridge Pharmaceuticals, based in New Jersey, is recalling generic duloxetine (Cymbalta).
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web search NEUTRAL — Duloxetine (generic for Cymbalta®) is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant FDA-approved to treat depression, generalized anxiety disorder, painful diabetic neuropathy, f…
https://marketingcloud.optum.com/content/owca/owca/en/insigh…
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web search NEUTRAL — Individuals who purchased generic duloxetine manufactured for Breckenridge Pharmaceutical Inc. between Aug. 4, 2020, and May 22, 2025, may be eligible to submit a claim to receive a single payment of …
https://cleverinsuranceguide.com/generic-cymbalta-recall-cla…
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web search NEUTRAL — Breckenridge Pharma. Home. Footerpages. Description. Each patch of 5cm² contains 9mg rivastimine base with in vivo release rate of 4.6mg/24hours. Individually Sealed Pouches containing 1 patch in each…
https://www.bpirx.com/
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Claim 8: “Breckenridge is also recalling two lots of 60mg capsules, according to a separate notice published by the California Board of Pharmacy. Those are February 2026 with the lot number 230286C and February 2027 with the lot number 24072lC.”
DISPUTED
The claim states lot numbers 230286C and 24072lC for 60mg capsules. However, the evidence from a specific recall report lists 60mg lot codes as 240978C and 241052C. The provided evidence for this claim consists of irrelevant Wikipedia entries about the town of Breckenridge, CO, and an actress, providing no support for the specific lot numbers mentioned in the claim.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Alexandra Breckenridge (born May 15, 1982) is an American actress. She began her career with supporting roles in the teen comedy films Big Fat Liar (2002) and She's the Man (2006). She later played re…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandra_Breckenridge
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Breckenridge is the home rule town that is the county seat of Summit County, Colorado, United States. The population was 5,078 at the 2020 census. Breckenridge is the principal town of the Breckenridg…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breckenridge,_Colorado
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Breckenridge is a city and county seat of Stephens County, Texas, Texas, United States. The estimated population was 5,349 as of February 2021. Breckenridge was a stop on the since defunct Wichita Fal…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breckenridge,_Texas
+ 3 more evidence sources
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.