Pharmaceutical Company Expands Blood Pressure Medicine Recall Due to Possible Cancer-Causing Ingredient

Torrent Pharmaceuticals has issued a fifth expansion of a blood pressure medication recall they originally announced way back in January after the discovery of an ingredient that is classified as a possible carcinogen.

The expansion, released by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration on Monday, adds the following five batches of Losartan Potassium Tablets:

Losartan Potassium Tablets, USP 50mg, 1000 count

• National Drug Code (NDC): 13668-409-10
• Batch Number: 4DU2E009
• Expiration Date: 12/31/2020

Losartan Potassium Tablets, USP 100mg, 90 count

• NDC: 13668-115-90
• Batch Number: 4DU3E009
• Expiration Date: 12/31/2020

Losartan Potassium Tablets, USP 100mg, 1000 count

• NDC: 13668-115-10
• Batch Number: 4DU3E018
• Expiration Date: 02/28/2021

Losartan Potassium / Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets, USP 50mg/12.5mg, 90 count

• NDC: 13668-116-90
• Batch Number: BEF7D051
• Expiration Date: 11/30/2020

Losartan Potassium / Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets, USP 100mg/25mg, 90 count

• NDC: 13668-118-90
• Batch Number: 4P04D007
• Expiration Date: 07/31/2020

The aforementioned ingredient in question is called N-Methylnitrosobutyric acid. An ingredient the FDA says, "occurs naturally in certain foods, drinking water, air pollution, and industrial processes."

Torrent Pharmaceuticals is strongly encouraging consumers to continue using the medication until they can speak to a pharmacist or their doctor about an alternative treatment plan as the health effects of abruptly stopping the use of the medication could be greater than the risk of continuing to use it.

The company is currently in the process of finalizing the details of how you can return the medication. In the meantime, they encourage you to call them at 1-800-912-9561 or e-mail them at Medinfo.Torrent@apcerls.com if your medication is one of those under the recall.

For photos of the bottle labels and links to the previous expansion of the recall, visit the USFDA website.

[Source: U.S. Food & Drug Administration]