Blood pressure medicine recall: Some pills pose potential cancer risk, FDA announces

USA Today

Blood pressure medicine recall: Some pills pose potential cancer risk, FDA announces

Natalie Neysa Alund – October 27, 2022

A pharmaceutical company is recalling a blood pressure medication due to a potential cancer risk, the FDA announced this week.

Aurobindo Pharma USA is recalling two lots of quinapril and hydrochlorothiazide tablets due to levels of nitrosamine. The tablets are commonly prescribed for the treatment of hypertension to lower blood pressure.

Low levels of nitrosamine, or N-nitroso-quinapril, is regularly found in water and food including cured and grilled meats, dairy products and vegetables. Exposure to high levels, the FDA reports, has been linked with an elevated risk of cancer.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the company’s voluntary recall Wednesday.

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According to the FDA advisory, the medication are “pink colored, scored, round shaped, biconvex, film-coated tablets, debossed with ‘D’ on the scored side and ‘19’ on the other side.”

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So far, the FDA reported no adverse events have been linked to this issue.

“Patients should contact their doctor or health care provider about whether to continue taking their medication, or whether to consider an alternative treatment prior to returning their medication,” according to an advisory on the FDA’s website.

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About 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 people die each year from preventable foodborne illnesses.

Consumers with questions about the recall can call 1-866-850-2876 or email pvg@aurobindousa.com.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. 

Author: John Hanno

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Bogan High School. Worked in Alaska after the earthquake. Joined U.S. Army at 17. Sergeant, B Battery, 3rd Battalion, 84th Artillery, 7th Army. Member of 12 different unions, including 4 different locals of the I.B.E.W. Worked for fortune 50, 100 and 200 companies as an industrial electrician, electrical/electronic technician.