Some drugs have been withdrawn from the market because of risks to the patients. Usually this has been prompted by unexpected adverse effects that were not detected during Phase III clinical trials and were only apparent from postmarketing surveillance data from the wider patient community.

Significant withdrawals

Drug name	Withdrawn	Remarks
Thalidomide	1950s–1960s	Withdrawn because of risk of teratogenicity; returned to market for use in leprosy and multiple myeloma under FDA orphan drug rules
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)	1950s–1960s	Marketed as a psychiatric cure-all; withdrawn after it became widely used recreationally
Diethylstilbestrol	1970s	Withdrawn because of risk of teratogenicity
Phenformin and Buformin	1978	Withdrawn because of risk of lactic acidosis
Ticrynafen	1982	Withdrawn because of risk of hepatitis
Zimelidine	1983	Withdrawn worldwide because of risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome
Methaqualone	1984	Withdrawn because of risk of addiction and overdose.
Triazolam	1991	Withdrawn in the United Kingdom because of risk of psychiatric adverse drug reactions. This drug continues to be available in the U.S.
Temafloxacin	1992	Withdrawn in the United States because of allergic reactions and cases of hemolytic anemia, leading to three patient deaths.
Alpidem (Ananxyl)	1996	Withdrawn because of rare but serious hepatotoxicity.
Fen-phen (popular combination of fenfluramine and phentermine)	1997	Phentermine remains on the market, dexfenfluramine and fenfluramine – later withdrawn as caused heart valve disorder
Tolrestat (Alredase)	1997	Withdrawn because of risk of severe hepatotoxicity
Terfenadine (Seldane)	1998	Withdrawn because of risk of cardiac arrhythmias; superseded by fexofenadine
Mibefradil (Posicor)	1998	Withdrawn because of dangerous interactions with other drugs
Temazepam (Restoril, Euhypnos, Normison, Remestan, Tenox, Norkotral)	1999	Withdrawn in Sweden and Norway because of diversion, abuse, and a relatively high rate of overdose deaths in comparison to other drugs of its group. This drug continues to be available in the U.S.
Astemizole (Hismanal)	1999	Arrhythmias because of interactions with other drugs
Troglitazone (Rezulin)	2000	Withdrawn because of risk of hepatotoxicity; superseded by pioglitazone and rosiglitazone
Alosetron (Lotronex)	2000	Withdrawn because of risk of fatal complications of constipation; reintroduced 2002 on a restricted basis
Cisapride (Propulsid)	2000s	Withdrawn in many countries because of risk of cardiac arrhythmias
Amineptine (Survector)	2000	Withdrawn because of hepatotoxicity, dermatological side effects, and abuse potential.
Phenylpropanolamine (Propagest, Dexatrim)	2000	Withdrawn because of risk of stroke in women under 50 years of age when taken at high doses (75mg twice daily) for weight loss.
Trovafloxacin (Trovan)	2001	Withdrawn because of risk of liver failure
cerivastatin (Baycol, Lipobay)	2001	Withdrawn because of risk of rhabdomyolysis
Rapacuronium (Raplon)	2001	Withdrawn in many countries because of risk of fatal bronchospasm
Rofecoxib (Vioxx)	2004	Withdrawn because of risk of myocardial infarction
mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall XR)	2005	Withdrawn in Canada because of risk of stroke. See Health Canada press release
hydromorphone extended-release (Palladone)	2005	Withdrawn because of a high risk of accidental overdose when administered with alcohol
Pemoline (Cylert)	2005	Withdrawn from U.S. market because of hepatotoxicity
Natalizumab (Tysabri)	2005-2006	Voluntarily withdrawn from U.S. market because of risk of Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Returned to market July, 2006.
Ximelagatran (Exanta)	2006	Withdrawn because of risk of hepatotoxicity (liver damage).
Tegaserod (Zelnorm)	2007	Withdrawn because of imbalance of cardiovascular ischemic events, including heart attack and stroke.
Aprotinin (Trasylol)	2007	Withdrawn because of increased risk of complications or death; permanently withdrawn in 2008 except for research use
Lumiracoxib	2007-2008	Progressively withdrawn around the world because of serious side effects, mainly liver damage

External links

CDER Report to the Nation: 2005 Has a list of U.S. withdrawals through 2005