Remedies started again Hypertension pills have to be called because of impurities from the market

Valsartan and Irbesartan: new recalls of hypertension

In recent months, several recalls have been launched for high blood pressure medications with valsartan, after it became known that the preparations were contaminated with hazardous substances. Now more antihypertensives will be recalled.

Recall for valsartanhaltige drugs

At the beginning of July, the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) had started a recall for valsartan-containing drugs from the Chinese manufacturer "Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals" because carcinogenic impurities had been found in the antihypertensive drugs. In September it was confirmed that also preparations of the Indian company Hetero Labs were contaminated. And now it is reported that more antihypertensives are recalled.

After several medicines for blood pressure therapy due to impurities have been recalled in recent months, new recalls for hypotensive agents have now been started. (Image: benjaminnolte / fotolia.com)

Contamination with carcinogenic substances

According to a report by the Deutsche Apothekerzeitung, Valsartan from Mylan Laboratories Limited of Hyderabad, India, may not be used for the production of valsartan-containing medicines for the time being.

This is because impurities with N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) have been found in some batches.

Both NDEA and the chemically-related substance N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which have been found in other sartans, are considered potentially carcinogenic.

Batches of Irbesartan Heumann 300 mg are also currently being recalled, reports the German Hypertension League in a release published by the Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (idw).

For the treatment of various diseases

According to the BfArM, sartans (including candesartan, irbesartan, losartan, olmesartan and valsartan) are angiotensin II receptor antagonists used to treat arterial hypertension (high blood pressure).

Also in heart failure (heart failure), after a recent heart attack or in patients who have kidney disease and additionally hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus, these drugs are used.

The preparations are available alone or in combination with other drugs.

In some cases, these remedies are used to lower high blood pressure because taking other medicines leads to persistent irritable cough in the patients.

Do not simply lower your blood pressure reducer

According to the Deutsche Apothekerzeitung, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) points out that the new findings do not pose a direct risk to patients.

As with the previous contamination, it is pointed out that blood pressure therapy should never be stopped by hand.

Patients should discuss their further treatment with a doctor or pharmacist.

On Thursday a press conference of the German high pressure league will also address the question of which alternative therapies remain. (Ad)