FDA: Common Blood Pressure Medication Faces Expanded Recall
Recall Announced By FDA
The FDA is again expanding its recall of the blood pressure medication Losartan, citing cancer concerns. This is the fifth time the recall is being expanded; the fourth recall was in April.
Recall Can Affect Those Who Take Losartan
The Losartan Potassium Tablets USP and Losartan Potassium/hydrochlorothiazide tablets, made by Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited, treat people with hypertension, hypertensive patients with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, and nephropathy in people with Type 2 diabetes.
The voluntary recall was expanded Sept. 19, and includes three lots of Losartan Potassium Tablets USP and two of Losartan Potassium/Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets, USP.
'An Unexpected Impurity'
In a statement from Torrent Pharmaceuticals, the recall is "due to the detection of trace amounts of an unexpected impurity."
A Carcinogen Was Found
According to Fox News, a potential carcinogen known as N-Methylnitrosobutyric acid (NMBA) has been found in the medication.
Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited states that this recall only refers to Losartan tablets that have more than the allowed amount of NMBA, per the FDA.
Patients Advised To Continue Treatment For Now
A statement from the FDA reads:
"Patients who are taking Losartan Potassium Tablets, USP and Losartan Potassium/Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets, USP should continue taking their medication, as the risk of harm to the patient’s health may be higher if the treatment is stopped immediately without any alternative treatment."
