United States

Nationwide Recall of Popular Blood Pressure, Heart Drugs Expanded Over Cancer Concerns

Consumers should speak with their doctor to discuss the recall before they stop taking the drug

What to Know

  • A multibillion-dollar pharmaceutical company has expanded its national recall of a prescription drug used to treat high blood pressure
  • The recall was expanded after trace amounts of a possible carcinogen were found in an active pharmaceutical ingredient
  • Torrent Pharmaceuticals, based in India, expanded its U.S. recall Thursday to include thousands upon thousands more losartan-related tablets

A multibillion-dollar pharmaceutical company has expanded its national recall of a prescription drug used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure for the fourth time since December after trace amount of a possible carcinogen were detected, federal officials announced Thursday. 

Torrent Pharmaceuticals, based in India, expanded its U.S. recall to include thousands upon thousands more losartan potassium and losartan potassium/hydrochlorothiazide tablets due to the detection of an "unexpected impurity"  -- N-Methylnitrosobutyric acid (NMBA) -- in an active ingredient.

NMBA, a potential cancer-causing impurity, was found at levels above the acceptable daily intake recommendations of the FDA, Torrent said. No adverse health effects related to the recall have been reported, the company said. 

Click here to see the lengthy list of recalled products and learn more about the previous recalls connected to this expansion. 

Consumers taking the affected medication should speak with their doctors to discuss the recall before they stop taking the drug, or if they have experienced any adverse effects that may be related to the drug.

Losartan is used to treat high blood pressure, left ventricle-heart conditions and nephropathy in Type 2 diabetic patients, among other conditions. Losartan potassium and hydrochlorothiazide tablets are also used to treat high blood pressure and heart issues, but are not used to treat nephropathy.

Other manufacturers have recalled losartan in recent months, but some have involved different potential contaminants. Be sure to contact your health care provider or pharmacy if you have any questions about losartan overall. 

Anyone with questions about the latest recall may call Torrent Pharmaceuticals at 1-800-912-9561 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

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