Patient Alert Recall On Blood Pressure Medication
July 22, 2018
HEALTHTEAM PHARMACIES' PATIENTS DISPENSED VALSARTAN TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION
The Food and Drug Administration announced a voluntary recall to consumers on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 of Valsartan and Valsartan Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets by several manufacturers due to the detection of trace amounts of an impurity in the drugs' active ingredient. According to the FDA, the impurity NDMA also known as N-nitrosodimethylamine, which occurs naturally in some foods, drinking water, air pollution and industrial processes has been classified as a probable human carcinogen by the international Agency for Research on Cancer. It is important to note that not all products containing valsartan are being recalled.
Valsartan is used for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure) and for the treatment of heart failure.
The FDA is recommending patients:
- Continue taking the medication until an alternative is secured because the risk of harm to their health may be higher if the medication is stopped immediately
- Review their valsartan prescription bottle label against the FDA list for the drug company name, NDC number and lot number to determine if it has been recalled. If the information is not on the bottle, contact the pharmacy that dispensed the medicine.
- Contact their pharmacist or physician to advise them about an alternative treatment prior to returning their medication.
- If you are taking a one of the recalled medications, follow the recall instructions provided by each company. We have linked to them in the following table for your reference.
FOR EVERYONE
We believe the safety of all MSU patients, faculty and staff to be paramount. This information contains what we currently know about the valsartan recall from the FDA. Continue to monitor the FDA website on drug recalls, and other reputable sources of news on this recall as it develops.
Recalled Products
|
Medicine |
Company |
|
Valsartan |
|
|
Valsartan |
|
|
Valsartan |
|
|
Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) |
|
|
Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) |
Detailed list of products included in the recall from the FDA web site.
The FDA will continue to investigate this issue and provide additional information when it becomes available. The agency encourages patients and health care professionals to report any adverse reaction to the FDA’s MedWatch program.
FOR MSU HEALTHTEAM PHARMACY PATIENTS
As an additional measure, MSU HealthTeam Pharmacies will be notifying its patients in the following manner:
- Communicating in person to all individuals prescribed Valsartan, who present at our pharmacies.
- Phone calls to MSU HealthTeam pharmacy patients dispensed Valsartan during the manufactured ship date, as identified by a report from our pharmacy software.
- Letter to above MSU HealthTeam pharmacy patients not reached by phone call.
Patients do not need to wait for us to notify them. If you have questions, please call one of our pharmacy locations and speak to a staff member.
Olin Pharmacy 517-353-9165
Clinical Center Pharmacy 517-353-4930