Posted on 07/19/2018 8:15:14 AM PDT by Red Badger
Several common drugs that contain valsartan, used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure, were recalled in the United States on Friday due to an "impurity" in the drug that poses a potential cancer risk. That impurity, N-nitrosodimethylamine or NDMA, is classified as a probable human carcinogen, based on results from lab tests. The medicines included in the voluntary recall are valsartan from Major Pharmaceuticals, Solco Healthcare and Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries, as well as valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide from Solco and Teva.
Valsartan is off patent and is used as a component of other generic medicines, but not all medicines containing the ingredient are involved in the recall. The US Food and Drug Administration noted in a news release that "the presence of NDMA was unexpected" and thought to be related to changes in the way the active substance was manufactured. "Our drug shortages team is also working hard to ensure patients' therapeutic needs are met in the United States with an adequate supply of unaffected medications," FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said in the statement.
The FDA action came after 22 other countries issued recalls involving 2,300 valsartan batches sent to Germany, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Ireland, Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, France, Poland, Croatia, Lithuania, Greece, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bahrain and Malta. Now, the US recall has left some patients who take valsartan-containing drugs scratching their heads over what to do about their treatment regimens.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
I use Valsartan for blood pressure control. I called my pharmacist yesterday to make sure I was not taking one of the ones that has been recalled. They said they checked, and I am not.
Any brand names or generic names? The article only mentioned one or two but claims “many”.
I do too. .................
Other articles from competent news sources mention brand names.
I dug into the concentration of the bad stuff and it’s high enough to cause concern. Generally with most of this stuff, the hysteria doesn’t jive with reality. Yes, Gatorade has some glycol in it. something like 2 parts per billion and nowhere within a hundred gallons of lethality.
I take Valsartin but my brand wasn’t affected.
The linked article is a bit confusing. But they mention Major Pharmaceuticals, Solco Healthcare, and Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries as being those companies under recall.
Those three companies are also listed in the FDA press release.
So I’m guessing you should check your prescription bottle, and see if any of those companies are listed.
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm613532.htm
Thank you China:
The companies listed below are recalling all lots of non-expired products that contain the ingredient valsartan supplied to them by Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals, Linhai, China.
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm613532.htm
I take one that’s on the recall list, but my pharmacy can’t get Valsartan from any manufacture.
Glad I sold my TEVA stock last year,,,,,
Same here. Picking up a refill today.
Maybe................
I called the provider to me, Walgreens and they said the order I got is OK.
> supplied to them by Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals, Linhai, China <
China just doesn’t send us inferior products. Often they are also downright dangerous. We’ve seen that in drywall, flooring, etc. And no one in power (D or R) seems to care, not until a specific problem becomes too obvious.
Thank goodness Trump won in 2016. One proposal in NAFTA was to eliminate the Country of Origin labeling requirement.
China needs to steal more safety related intellectual property.
Valsartan/HCT 160/12.5
For years I took “Diovan/HCT 160/12.5...which is “valsartan”.
I need to call my Rx guy and find out if there is any difference (other than the name).
Thanks for posting.
Try this link:
https://www.iodine.com/drug/diovan/alternatives/6
Very true...
Thank you!
Here’s some additional information from the Government of Mexico. If you’re a Freeper who’s been obtaining this medication in Mexico in the past year, you may have the “Versalver” brand. Versalver is on the recall list.
I find it interesting that it’s the Mexican Gooberment that’s telling us the Chinese are responsible.
I have a 4 month supply of Versalver, since our physician had enough of the ACA & retired. Now, I can’t find a recommended Physician without a 6 month wait. But, Pelosi says I’m covered. My joy knows no bounds.
Mexico, (Notimex) .- Faced with an international warning about quality defects in the production of the active ingredient valsartan from Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., in China, Cofepris ordered the immobilization and prohibited the sale of medicines produced with the input of that provider.
In a statement, he said that the withdrawal of the market from medicines containing as active ingredient said substance produced by the same company was initiated.
This substance is used in medicines to control blood pressure and heart problems.
The international notification has affected multiple countries, so the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris), through its international cooperation schemes, will join the corresponding sanitary control actions to avoid any risk to the population.
The products identified so far that contain the raw material manufactured by the Chinese pharmaceutical company are: Diovalte, Vapispre, Vigisan, Avalraam, Menfhipress, Versalver, Vzar and Vagsar.
The Cofepris recommended patients who use any of the medicines with active ingredient valsartan mentioned above, not to stop the treatment and go to the doctor to be granted the prescription of an alternative drug that has the same function according to the treatment that is performed .
The doctors were asked to review the treatments and replace the medication with another with the same composition or same therapeutic indication that is not within the withdrawal carried out by this authority.
While pharmacies should tell the patient to consult their doctor and not stop treatment, if you have been prescribed any of the medicines with the active ingredient.
The Mexican health agency said it will continue surveillance actions, following the withdrawal of products that may be involved with Valsartan originating from Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. in China.
For more information, you can consult the Cofepris website (https://www.gob.mx/cofepris/), or by phone 50805200 Ext. 1391, 1256, 4257, 1183 or email alerts@cofepris.gob.mx
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