Blood pressure medication recalled after contamination

Louisiana patients may be concerned about potential risks to their health if they have taken certain blood pressure tablets that contained trace amounts of a known human carcinogen. Two lots of Losartan potassium tablets, used to treat high blood pressure and other disorders linked to Type 2 Diabetes, were voluntarily recalled by Torrent Pharmaceuticals. The company announced the recall of two lots of the medication on the Food and Drug Administration website.

The pills were found to contain small amounts of N-nitrosodiethylamine, a naturally-occurring chemical that is also linked to air pollution and industrial emissions. It is considered to be a probable cause of cancer in humans. While drug safety officials said that patients should continue to take their medication, they also said that they should speak with a pharmacist or doctor about alternative treatments. As the recall only applies to specific lots of Losartan tablets, patients may be able to replace their recalled medication with a new, uncontaminated lot. However, stopping the pills without ensuring an alternative is in place may lead to serious health consequences for high blood pressure patients.