Doctors, Pharmacists Give Advice on Blood Pressure Drug Recalled Over Cancer Risk
Doctors and pharmacists are giving new advice after a recall for heart and blood pressure medication.
Friday, the FDA issued a recall for valsartan, a widely-prescribed drug.
Family-owned pharmacy Spalitto’s Pharmacy began calling customers and cleared its shelves of the drug.
“We had a few calls today,” Pete Spalitto, the owner of Spalitto’s Pharmacy said. “It’s a pretty popular drug.”
The FDA joined 22 countries in issuing the recall. The concern is batches from Teva Pharmaceuticals, Solco Healthcare and major Pharmaceuticals contain a chemical known as NDMA that can cause cancer.
“The presence in the drug is concerning,” Dr. Paramdeep Baweja, a cardiologist at Truman Medical Center said.
Baweja adds the recall is voluntary and just a precaution for now.
There shouldn’t be a panic, but it is something that needs to be addressed,” he said.
He says step one is for people to call their pharmacy to see if their specific prescription is affected.
“There are alternatives that are so similar to the valsartan that are out there,” Spalitto said.
In the meantime, the most important advice is to continue taking it.
“Not taking your blood pressure medication is actually more of a concern to some people than the drug that’s in there,” Spalitto said.
“It could cause problems from just discontinuation of the drug,” Baweja said.
So far, no ill effects have been confirmed.
“It’s a little too soon what the issues will be,” Baweja said. “I’m sure we’ll have more information from the FDA very soon.”
Another common medication called HCTZ was also included in the recall.
The full list is on the FDA website.
Source: KMBC News
