US FDA: 87 lots of popular blood pressure medication recalled for cancer risk

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MARCH 1, 2019

Measuring blood pressure – iStockphoto/Getty Images

Camber Pharmaceuticals, Inc. recalled 87 lots of the blood pressure medication losartan on Thursday after discovering trace amounts of a potential carcinogen.

The recalled 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg tablets contained small amounts of N-Nitroso N-Methyl 4-amino butyric acid, or NMBA, according to a company recall notice posted on the Food and Drug Administration’s website. It’s the second losartan recall in a week; Macleods Pharmaceuticals Limited recalled a single lot on Feb. 22.

Camber says the medication was nationally distributed to retail and mail-order pharmacies, in addition to wholesalers and distributors.

“To date, Camber has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall,” the release says.

The medication is packaged in 30 count, 90 count, 500 count and 1000 count bottles. A full list of recalled medications is available from the FDA.

The release says that consumers should continue taking the product until receiving guidance from their doctor.

The active drug ingredient was made at Hetero Labs Limited in India, one of two overseas drug factories linked to repeated blood medication recalls since last July.

There have been more than a dozen recalls of versions of the blood pressure and heart medications losartan, valsartan and irbesartan that contained trace amounts of probable carcinogens.

The recalled drugs are part of a large class of drugs called angiotensin II receptor blockers, or ARBs, which work by relaxing the blood vessels.


Courtesy/Source: USA Today