From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
The distributing firm, Major Pharmaceuticals, has issued a nationwide recall of a medication used to treat blood pressure and heart failure that they say may be contaminated with a cancer-causing agent, according to the Drug and Food Administration.
The medication being recalled is Valsartan, supplied by Teva Pharmaceuticals and distributed by Major Pharmaceuticals. It is believed that the medicine contains the “probable” carcinogen N- nitrosodimethylamine or NDMA though not all Valsartan products are being recalled. It was distributed to wholesale, retail facilities, hospitals and pharmacies.
No adverse events have been reported so far, the FDA stated.
“The product was distributed as unit dose blisters with 100 tablets per carton,” the FDA said in a statement. “The distribution firm is notifying distributors and other customers by recall letter and arranging for return of all recalled products.”
“Consumers should contact their doctor for further guidance and potential change of treatment before they stop taking this product. Pharmacies, and healthcare facilities that have product being recalled should stop using and dispensing the product immediately.”
The FDA has given the following tips to those who currently have the medication.
- Because valsartan is used in medicines to treat serious medical conditions, patients taking the recalled valsartan-containing medicines should continue taking their medicine until they have a replacement product.
- To determine whether a specific product has been recalled, patients should look at the drug name and company name on the label of their prescription bottle. If the information is not on the bottle, patients should contact the pharmacy that dispensed the medicine.
- If a patient is taking one of the recalled medicines listed below, they should follow the recall instructions provided by the specific company. This information will be posted to the FDA’s website.
- Patients should also contact their health care professional (the pharmacist who dispensed the medication or doctor who prescribed the medication) if their medicine is included in this recall to discuss their treatment, which may include another valsartan product not affected by this recall or an alternative treatment option.
Those with questions can contact Major Pharmaceuticals’ Customer Support at 1-800-616-2471 or talk to their physician. Reactions to the medication can be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting online.
For more information and to see a list of recalled products, visit the FDA’s announcement on the recall.