Losartan Potassium Tablets Being Recalled -- Again!

Yet another recall of the drug Losartan has been expanded by Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited, a flagship company of the Torrent Group based in India. This puts the expanded recall at five counts for the drug. The said recall is due to the reported carcinogenic substances contained in the blood pressure medication.

Reports from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have shown that NMBA, N-Methyl Nitroso Butyric acid, appear in Losartan Potassium tablets USP and Losartan Potassium/ Hydrochlorothiazide tablets USP at levels that are higher than the acceptable limit. Other five medications were included in the announcement from the FDA, including a blood pressure medication that has been recalled during the past 14 months. The said chemicals were said to cause cancer in animals and humans.

The recalled medication is said to treat a number of ailments including nephropathy for Type 2 diabetic patients, hypertensive patients with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, and hypertension.

Contaminants that cause cancer has been found in various medications and have been reported repetitively since 2018.

The most recent recalls include impurities in ranitidine, a common heartburn medication. The company Novartis has announced a halt in the distribution of ranitidine until the drug would be cleared for distribution once more.

While the FDA has only covered around 1% in testing various medications, the said agency maintains a list on its website, containing products that are cleared for use. The list is readily available for patients and healthcare providers to check, along with detailed news for recalled products.

Chemicals such as the aforementioned NMBA, N-nitrosodimethylamine or NDMA, and N-nitrosodiethylamine or NDEA, could also be found in nature. Although short term exposure to lower levels may not be harmful, recent recalls may prompt patients to suddenly abandon the intake of their medication. However, experts recommend consulting their physicians first before stopping the intake of any medication. The FDA also recommends patients who experienced any problem with the use of the said products to contact their physicians and health providers right away.

Losartan is also prescribed for diabetic kidney disease and heart failure. It is taken orally in small tablets which are typically white. It may be taken on its own or it could be taken in addition to other medications.

The recalled lots include 50mg tablets and 100 mg tablets.