Select Page

Third Heart Medication Recall Due to Cancer Risk

The FDA announced a third heart medication recall. The agency found impurity N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) in losartan potassium hydrochlorothiazide tablets. The International Agency for Research on Cancer warns that NDEA is a human carcinogen.

 

About NDEA

HeartAttackNDEA can exist naturally in certain foods and drinking water. However, it can also be in air pollution and industrial processes. Many industry materials also use it along with gasoline as a stabilizer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer warns that it can cause cancer in humans. Now, the FDA has pinpointed that NDEA in these heart medications was made by Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Company Co. Ltd. The FDA thus placed the Chinese company on an import alert at the end of September. This means all of its active pharmaceutical products and finished products will not be permitted to enter the United States. The FDA made that decision after an inspection of the facility.

 

Third Heart Medication Recall

The FDA’s newest heart medication recall involves Sandoz’ losartan potassium hydrochlorothiazide. The agency found NDEA in certain lots of the medication. Several pills that contain valsartan, another drug used by heart patients, have been under a recall since July. The drugs were tainted with NDEA or NDMA. Both are carcinogens. The FDA is testing all heart drugs (ARBs) for these impurities.
Furthermore, the losartan recall only involves the 100 milligram/25 milligram tablets. It does not involve the other versions of the drug, sometimes sold under the brand names Hyzaar. The bottle lot number is JB8912. If you have the recalled medication, please keep your medication for testing.

The U.S. Valsartan Recall

Valsartan Contaminate 300x187In July 2018, the FDA has asked three manufacturers of generic valsartan medication to voluntarily recall it from the U.S. market. Also, the agency asked pharmacists to return contaminated medications to the manufacturers. Furthermore, the agency is continuing to investigate the NDMA levels to asses cancer risks in those who already ingested the medication. the agency identified 13 other API manufacturers who supply more than 20 drug companies that make valsartan for the U.S. market. We made plans to determine if their products could also contain NDMA. Over 8,000 people received the highest dose of valsartan medications, and therefore the largest amount of the chemical.

The FDA named the following manufacturers in the recall

 

  • Major Pharmaceuticals valsartan products
  • Solco Healthcare valsartan products
  • Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. valsartan products
  • Solco Healthcare valsartan/HCTZ products
  • Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. valsartan/HCTZ products

Also, it is dangerous to stop abruptly taking medication involved in the valsartan recall. Contact your healthcare provider for more information.

 

A Second Carcinogen Found

In September 2018, Now, the FDA announced that three additional lots of valsartan drugs made by Torrent Pharmaceuticals contain a second carcinogen, N-Nitrosodiethylamine, or NDEA. Exposure to NEDA can cause liver damage including necrosis of the liver. It hasn’t been tested in humans, but rats ingesting NDEA had increased fetal mortality rates.

 

Seek Justice

Justice 300x150Many people after taking recalled heart medications are horrified to learn that their blood pressure meds could have caused their liver cancer. Thus, it is important to seek justice. These potentially cancer-causing drugs have been on the market for over 5 years. This is unacceptable. Therefore, you should hold these manufacturers accountable.
We want to help send a message that this is not acceptable. If a dangerous product harmed you, we will be your advocate. Additionally, we have the experience necessary to successfully litigate these cases.
Contact the Michael Brady Lynch Firm today for a free consultation to learn more about seeking justice. Compensation may be available for any medical expenses associated with this ordeal, as well as for your physical and emotional suffering. There is also no obligation.

×
What Our Clients Are Saying