Companies recall blood pressure medications

Several common drugs that contain valsartan, used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure, were recalled in the United States on Friday due to an “impurity” in the drug that poses a potential cancer risk, according to a CNN report.

That imp urity,di methyl a mine or NDMA, is classified as a probable human carcinogen, based on results from lab tests.

The medicines included in the voluntary recall are valsartan from Major Pharmaceuticals, Solco Healthcare and Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries, as well as valsartan/ hydro ch lo roth iazi de from Solco and Teva.

Valsartan is off patent and is used as a component of other generic medicines, but not all medicines containing the ingredient are involved in the recall.

The US Food and Drug Administration noted in a news release that “the presence of NDMA was unexpected” and thought to be related to changes in the way the active substance was manufactured.

“Our drug shortages team is also working hard to ensure patients’ therapeutic needs are met in the United States with an adequate supply of unaffected medications,” FDA commissioner Dr Scott Gottlieb said in the statement.

Now, the recall has left some patients scratching their heads over what to do about their treatment regimens.