By: Virgin Islands Free Press News DeskST. CROIX — Federal health officials have issued a nationwide public health alert following a massive voluntary recall of nearly 300,000 capsules of a widely prescribed blood thinner due to product degradation and impurity concerns. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Alkem Laboratories Ltd. voluntarily pulled three lots—totaling 5,460 cartons (299,520 capsules)—of Dabigatran Etexilate Capsules, the generic equivalent of the popular anticoagulant Pradaxa. The affected medication was distributed across the United States by Major Pharmaceuticals. According to FDA enforcement reports, the recall was initiated after 12-month stability testing showed the drug failed impurity and degradation specifications. Because abruptly stopping blood-thinning medication can trigger a stroke or life-threatening blood clot, health officials strongly advise patients NOT to stop taking their prescribed medication without consulting their doctor or pharmacist first to arrange a safe alternative.