Dozens of local heart patients have been calling their physicians and pharmacists following the voluntary recall of a common heart medication called Digitek.

Manufacturer Actavis Totowa LLC announced the recall April 25 after learning that some Digitek tablets with double the normal thickness had been released commercially, and perhaps contain double the approved level of the active ingredient.

The medication, commonly prescribed for patients with heart failure or heart arrhythmia, is distributed by Mylan Pharmaceuticals under the label "Bertek" and by UDL Laboratories under the label "UDL."

Dr. Srinivas Murali, director of the McGinnis Cardiovascular Institute at Allegheny General Hospital, said the drug is a well-established heart disease therapy but "the thing about this drug is that it has side effects directly related to the dosage."

Symptoms associated with an overdose of Digitek, or digoxin, may include a slowed or irregular heart rate, as well as nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, dizziness and low blood pressure.

"There can be life-threatening side effects, so one cannot take it lightly," said Dr. Murali.

Particularly vulnerable are those with poor kidney function and the elderly, he added.

A UPMC spokeswoman said no one was available yesterday to comment on the recall.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it has received "several" reports of illnesses and injuries to those who have taken the medication, but they have not confirmed those symptoms were caused by an overdose. There have been no reports of deaths.

Dr. Murali said AGH has fielded 50 to 100 phone calls from patients with Digitek prescriptions, but only a couple of them reported minor symptoms such as dizziness.

"Fortunately, as far as I'm aware, we have not seen any serious side effects," said Dr. Murali.

"My sense is that the news got out in a very timely fashion and pharmacists across Western Pennsylvania have been alerted."