What blood pressure medication is recalled? What to know if you have the pills

The maker of the drug said letters went out to customers with instructions for returning recalled blood pressure medication

More than a half-million bottles of Prazosin Hydrochloride, a widely-used blood pressure medication are being recalled over concerns it contains unsafe levels of a cancer-causing chemical, with the drugmaker telling patients who take the pills to contact their doctor or pharmacy if they have the product.

New Jersey-based Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. initiated the recall Oct. 7 for 580,844 bottles of Prazosin Hydrochloride capsules that were distributed nationwide. According to Teva, the drugs come in doses of 1mg, 2mg and 5 mg.

In total, 55 lots of the pills were recalled. A full list of impacted lot codes can be found here.

An enforcement report from the Food and Drug Administration showed capsules were recalled because tests for the pills revealed “above acceptable intake limits for N-nitroso Prazosin impurity C, a cancer-linked chemical compound.

According to the FDA, N-nitrosamine impurities are a class of potentially cancer-causing chemicals that can form during manufacture or storage of a drug.

Oct. 24, the recall was classified as a “Class II,” That means the product “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences,” the FDA said, or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.

According to the Health Hazard Assessment by Teva USA, the overall harm in the patient population is considered to be medium, the California Board of Pharmacy said in a memo.

What should you do if you take the drug?

In a statement sent to NBC Chicago, Teva said those who do take the medication are advised to contact their pharmacy to determine what to do with the remaining quantities, Teva also said it sent recall letters to its customers with instructions for returning recalled product.

Teva went on to say that it had not receive any “relevant complaints” related to the product.

“Prazosin is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure, and there are many alternative treatments available to patients,” the statement said. “Teva prioritizes patient safety and product quality at every stage of a medicine’s lifecycle.”

“In addition, consumers with questions or concerns should also contact the health care provider who prescribed the medication,” Teva said.

The drug, more commonly referred to as Prazosin, is a type of alpha-blocker that relaxes blood vessels and helps lower blood pressure. Doctors may also sometimes prescribe it for nightmares and other sleep disturbances caused by post-traumatic stress disorder.

Last month, Lipitor, a widely used cholesterol medication, was also recently recalled for “failed dissolution specifications,” which suggests the drugs did not properly dissolve at a standard rate and could lead to a reduction in the drug’s effectiveness.