The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has added two more blood pressure drugs containing valsartan to its lengthening recall list.
Teva Valsartan Blood Pressure Drugs Recalled
On Tuesday, Nov. 27, the public health agency announced that Teva Pharmaceuticals is voluntarily recalling all batches of its valsartan combination tablets manufactured using an active pharmaceutical ingredient API by Mylan India.
The drugs are being recalled due to the possibility that they are contaminated with organic chemical N-nitrosodiethylamine, better known as NDEA. According to the National Institute of Health, NDEA is used as gasoline and lubricant additive. The chemical is considered a human carcinogen.
"Amlodipine/Valsartan combination tablets and Amlodipine/Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide combination tablets are used for the treatment of high blood pressure," Teva Pharmaceuticals said in a statement. "To date, Teva has not received any reports of adverse events signaling a potential link or exposure to valsartan."
The company added that it has notified its distributors to stop the distribution of all recalled drugs. Customers can contact Teva Pharmaceuticals or the FDA for health-related questions or to report adverse effects they have experienced from taking the affected drugs.
The recent recall issue comes a few days after Mylan Pharmaceutical also voluntarily recalled 15 lots of valsartan-containing products in the United States due to possible contamination of NDEA.
2018 Blood Pressure Drug Recalls
The FDA is constantly updating its list of valsartan products under recall. The federal agency began issuing recalls of blood pressure drugs back in July when three companies, including Teva Pharmaceuticals, pulled back some of its products over cancer concerns. With this recent recall, Teva has effectively recalled all of its valsartan-containing blood pressure drugs from the market.
Despite the recall, the FDA recommends that patients continue taking the blood pressure medication until they have found an appropriate replacement. Stopping their high blood pressure medication suddenly could lead to more serious medical issues.
The federal agency has published a list of all blood pressure drugs that are not included in the recall. It is best to consult with health professionals to find a suitable medication that can treat the same condition.
