( CNN ) -- Despite a recall , millions of people may continue taking a generic form of Lipitor that might contain specks of glass . Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals issued the recall at the retail level November 9 , directing pharmacies not to dispense contaminated lots of the drug , but gave no directions to patients who have the drug at home . It 's made for a confusing situation for patients taking Ranbaxy 's atorvastatin , the generic form of Lipitor . Cholesterol drug recalled over glass concerns . `` Patients are sandwiched between two groups who are being less than helpful : the FDA and Ranbaxy , '' said Lisa Gill , editor of prescription drugs at Consumer Reports . A Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman could n't explain why the recall did n't direct consumers to stop taking the drug even though patients might have received the contaminated pills . The spokeswoman , Sarah Clark-Lynn , referred questions about the recall to Ranbaxy , which issued a one-paragraph statement on its website and did not return phone calls and e-mails from CNN . The statement said that `` select batches '' of the medicine may contain `` small glass particles approximately less than 1mm in size '' and that the recall was being conducted `` out of an abundance of caution . '' It did not give consumers guidance about what to do with supplies of the drug at home . `` In my recent memory , there has never been anything like this , '' Gill said . `` It makes my palms sweat just thinking about it . '' Advice to patients . Between 3 million and 4 million people take Ranbaxy 's atorvastatin , according to Ross Muken , senior managing director at ISI Group . The company has over a 40 % share of the generic Lipitor market . One major pharmacy , Express Scripts , is telling patients it will not exchange Ranbaxy atorvastatin for another brand , according to Brian Henry , vice president of corporate communications for Express Scripts . `` Ranbaxy , in conjunction with the FDA , has determined there are no safety concerns associated with continued use of atorvastatin in the patients ' possession , '' a recorded message tells consumers who call Express Scripts . Pharmacists at several CVS pharmacies said it was all right to keep taking already-filled prescriptions of Ranbaxy atorvastatin , but the company would exchange it for another brand at a customer 's request . Consumer Reports is advising consumers to take potentially contaminated medicine back to the pharmacy and request another brand , Gill said . A company with a history . Ranbaxy , India 's largest pharmaceutical company and the 12th largest generics maker in the world , has had quality problems in the past . The FDA has accused the company of `` a pattern of systemic fraudulent conduct , '' including taking shortcuts in crucial quality tests . So widespread and grave was the misbehavior that in 2008 the FDA barred Ranbaxy from importing 30 drugs into the United States . Previously on CNN.com : Lipitor loses patent , goes generic .
The drug maker issued a recall for atorvastatin , but gave no directions to users . Comment: Express Scripts and CVS locations are telling patients it 's OK to take the pills .