NATIONWIDE — The distributor of a variety of losartan, a popular blood pressure medication, has expanded the drug's recall over concerns it contains more than the acceptable trace amount of a carcinogen.
- Losartan potassium tablet recall expands from 2 to 10 lots
- Losartan is a popular drug to treat high blood pressure
- Recall comes after another hypertension drug was recalled
- CHECK YOUR MEDICATION: Head to the FDA website for information on losartan, valsartan and to view the recalled medications
- UPDATE: Camber Pharmaceuticals recalls almost 90 lots of losartan
Torrent Pharmaceuticals expanded its recall of losartan potassium tablets Thursday from eight to 10 lots of its 100 mg tablets. It says the lots can contain amounts of N-Nitrosodiethylamine, or NDEA, above the federally acceptable intake level of 0.27 parts per million.
There haven't been any reports of adverse events related to the recall, the Food and Drug Administration said.
The recall comes a couple of months after valsartan, another angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), which is used to treat hypertension, was recalled over the presence of NDEA.
NDEA and N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) have been found in several manufacturers' lots of ARBs and are probable human carcinogens, according to the FDA. NDEA is used as a gasoline and lubricant additive and also a stabilizer for industry materials.
Not all losartan and valsartan products are being recalled, and not all contain NDMA or NDEA, federal officials say. The FDA says people who are taking the recalled medications should continue taking them until their doctor prescribes an alternative, as it's riskier to stop taking hypertension medications altogether.
Check with FDA.gov for more information on the losartan and valsartan recalls.