Blood pressure medications added to growing recall list

Published 10:09 am Thursday, November 29, 2018

NEW YORK (TNS) — Additional blood pressure medications have been added to a growing list of recalls after it was discovered that they contain an impurity that could cause cancer, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

According to the FDA, Teva Pharmaceuticals is recalling all lots of Amlodipine/Valsartan combination tablets, and Amlodipine/Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide combination tablets. The drugs are used to treat high blood pressure.

The medications are being recalled because they were found to have an impurity known as N-nitrosodiethylamine, which has been classified as a possibly human carcinogen. It could lead to increased cancer risks in patients.

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The chemical is typically found in very small amounts in certain foods, drinking water, air pollution and certain industrial processes.

The FDA reported that Teva hasn’t received any reports of adverse events signaling a potential link or exposure to valsartan.

Consumers can go to the FDA’s recall announcement for a full list of the medications recalled.

Patients taking these drugs are advised to continue taking their medication and to contact their pharmacist or physician for advice on an alternative treatment.

The risk of harm to a patient’s health may be higher if the treatment is stopped immediately without any comparable alternative treatment, the FDA said.

Teva Pharmaceuticals is notifying its distributors and customers by mail, and is arranging for return or reimbursement of returned recalled products.

Earlier this month, the FDA announced a recall of similar blood pressure medication, Irbesartan, which may also contain the impurity.