Losartan blood pressure medication recall expanded again over cancer concerns, FDA says
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited has again expanded a recall of its blood pressure medication over concerns the tablets contain small amounts of a cancer-causing ingredient.
In a Sept. 19 statement, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited voluntarily expanded the recall to include additional lots of its Losartan Potassium Tablets USP and Losartan Potassium/hydrochlorothiazide tablets, which are used to treat hypertension, hypertensive patients with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, and nephropathy in Type 2 diabetic patients.
BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION RECALL EXPANDED OVER POSSIBLE CANCER-CAUSING INGREDIENT
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}More specifically, the expanded recall includes “an additional 3 lots of Losartan Potassium Tablets USP and 2 lots of Losartan Potassium/Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets, USP,” the FDA said in a statement.
One of the affected tablets. (FDA)
The ingredient detected in the tablets was identified as N-Methylnitrosobutyric acid (NMBA), a known animal and potential human carcinogen. The company said the recall only affects products found to have more than the FDA-allowable amount of NMBA.
“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,” the FDA said, advising patients to contact their pharmacist or doctor about an alternative medication.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The news marks the fifth time the company has expanded the recall. The fourth was announced in April.
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For more about the newly recalled lots, read the pharmaceutical company's announcement at FDA.gov.
Fox News' Alexandria Hein contributed to this report.