The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is again expanding its recall of widely prescribed blood pressure drugs after trace amounts of a possible cancer-causing substance were detected.
Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited announced its expanded recall Thursday for losartan potassium tablets USP and losartan potassium/hydrochlorothiazide tablets, USP, due to the detection of trace amounts of an “unexpected impurity” while testing finished product batches, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
This is the fifth time in 2019 that Torrent Pharmaceuticals has expanded its voluntary recall of losartan. The recall was first announced in January.
Losartan is used to treat hypertension, hypertensive patients with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and for the treatment of nephropathy in Type 2 diabetic patients. Losartan Potassium and Hydrochlorothiazide tablets, USP is used to treat hypertension and hypertensive patients with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, said the FDA.
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.
Patients should contact their pharmacist or physician who can advise them about an alternative treatment prior to returning their medication.
