Recall Expanded for Blood Pressure Medication Losartan

April 29, 2019

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited is expanding its voluntary recall for Losartan which is typically used to control high blood pressure (hypertension) nationwide. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says some Losartan Potassium Tablets USP and Losartan Potassium/hydrochlorothiazide tablets, USP contain trace amounts of nitrosamines ”” a chemical compound known to potentially cause cancer.

The FDA says N-Methylnitrosobutyric acid ””or NMBA”” is a nitrosamine found naturally in foods, water and soil. The agency says it is safe to consume at very low levels, however, it should not be in our drug supply. This nitrosamine was recently found in certain Losartan tablets manufactured by Hetero Labs Limited. So far, there are no reported illnesses, but the FDA has been investigating since July 2018.

What Are the Risks?

The FDA claims the amount of NMBA in the recalled products is too low for any damage to be done. Worst-case scenario, the agency estimates one out of 8,000 people could be at risk if they took the contaminated drug for four years. For perspective, the FDA says one out of every three Americans will experience cancer in their lifetime. The FDA is currently working with pharmaceutical companies to eliminate nitrosamines from all drugs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports about 75 million Americans have high blood pressure ”” one in every three adults. If you are currently taking one of the recalled drugs, call your doctor immediately to figure out the next course of action medically.

For a list of all recently recalled blood pressure medications, click here.

Call Phillips Law Group

Defective drugs can be a consumer nightmare, especially if your medication is necessary to save your life. If you have been injured by a defective drug, let the dedicated defective drug lawyers at Phillips Law Group help you. If you have a viable case, we can hold the pharmaceutical giants accountable and seek full compensation for your pain and suffering.

Sources:

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/updated-torrent-pharmaceuticals-limited-expands-voluntary-nationwide-recall-losartan-potassium

https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/faqs.htm#4

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