Blood Pressure Medication Recall Expanded

• April 23, 2019
• Dangerous Pharmaceuticals, FDA

Torrent Pharmaceuticals is recalling an additional 36 lots of Losartan potassium tablets and 68 lots Losartan potassium/hydrochlorothiazide tablets. This is the fourth expansion of the original recall posted in December 2018 of blood pressure medications manufactured by the company.

Why the Recall?

These medicines are being recalled due to the presence of N-Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) or N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). Both of these are industrial contaminants and are on lists of chemicals suspected to cause cancer. An impurity has been found in certain batches of the medications; not all are on the recall list.

According to Dr. Victoria Shin, a cardiologist with Torrance Memorial Medical Center in California, the problem isn’t the drug. “It’s a contaminant that was included in the manufacturing process that’s the problem. Patients shouldn’t lose faith in the drug itself.”

Torrent Pharmaceuticals is not aware of any incidents or illnesses related to the recall.

Losartan is prescribed for patients with high blood pressure and for Type 2 diabetics who have nephropathy.

FDA Recall Information

The FDA issued a recall of certain lots of angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) high blood pressure medications that contain valsartan, losartan or irbesartan. For a list of the drugs recalled, visit the FDA site.  The impurity level in these tablets is above what the FDA considers an acceptable daily intake level.

The FDA has developed a list of questions and answers about the drug and the recall. You’ll also find additional resources from the FDA as well.

The FDA said in a statement that it is investigating how much of the contaminants were present in the recalled drugs and is assessing what effect this might have on patients who had been taking the medications.

What Patients should do

• Continue taking your current medication until your healthcare provider gives you a replacement or a different treatment option. Do NOT stop taking it.
• Compare the information on your prescription bottle with the information on the FDA lists (i.e., name of the company and drug) to determine if your current medicine has been recalled. Another option is to call your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Not all valsartan, losartan, irbesartan-containing medications are affected and being recalled.

SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER

If you would like to receive news and blog updates on a regular basis, sign up to receive our email newsletter. Your email address will only be used to send you our newsletter and respond to inquiries.

SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTER

Past results afford no guarantee of future results and each case is different and is judged on its own merits. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements