Never stop blood pressure therapy by hand due to valsartan scandal

Valsartan scandal: take hypertension therapy seriously!

Several weeks ago, it became known that certain batches of the antihypertensive drug valsartan are contaminated with a carcinogenic substance. Subsequently, drugs containing this substance were recalled in many countries. Health experts in Germany are now warning against stopping blood pressure therapy on their own. Patients should check with the pharmacy or doctor if their product is affected.

Drugs contaminated with carcinogenic substance

In recent weeks, the Valsartan recall has caused great unrest in many countries. It has become known that certain lots of the active ingredient are contaminated with a carcinogenic substance. The German Hypertension League (DHL) now fears that the valsartan scandal may result in many patients with high blood pressure simply no longer taking their medication.

The German high pressure league has concern that the valsartan scandal strikes on the adherence of the high blood pressure patients. The experts warn against selling the important drugs without replacement. (Image: Kurhan / fotolia.com)

Do not simply lower your blood pressure reducer

The fear of cancer is great and some people may draw the wrong conclusion, preferring to completely abstain from the antihypertensive.

But this is a fatal error, writes the German high pressure league in a statement.

Even if discontinuing the blood pressure medication does not lead to symptoms and the patient initially feels good, he risks life-threatening complications such as stroke or heart attack.

The recommendation of the German High Pressure League is: Do not simply stop taking medicines, but replace the contaminated medicines as soon as possible!

Replace affected valsartan-containing medicines

Although there is no acute risk according to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), the recommendation was nevertheless made to exchange the affected valsartan-containing medicines.

But some patients may stop taking the medication for fear.

"People hear the word cancer and prefer to leave the blood pressure medication - because supposedly it works without it," said Prof. Dr. med. Bernhard K. Krämer, CEO of the German Hypertension League e.V. DHL® German Society for Hypertension and Prevention.

"If you do not take your tablets over a long period of time, you often have no symptoms. This is a general problem in hypertension treatment. Unfortunately, the least affected are aware of the long-term dangers of hypertension, "says the expert.

Consequences would be fatal

According to an estimate by the European Health Authority (EMA), more than 5,000 people over 7 years of age may be taking a contaminated valsartan medication if their cancer is over 5 years old.

Prof. Dr. Bernhard K. Krämer points out, however, that if 5,000 patients do not take their high blood pressure medicines for seven years, it would lead to significantly more than one death from stroke, heart attack or other typical complications of high blood pressure, but the death rate in high 2- to 3- would lie in the digit range.

"Simply eliminating the antihypertensive drugs would be fatal to many of our patients," said the expert, who urges patients to continue taking hypertension therapy seriously.

Re-insure at the pharmacy

Of course, one should avoid, however, continue to take contaminated substances, because any risk of cancer - even if it was so low - should be minimized.

DHL advises every patient who takes a valsartan supplement to reassure themselves, especially at their pharmacy, that it is not one of the medicines affected.

Alternatively, the patient may ask his physician to look up the list of drugs printed on the medication in an online list to see if his valsartanhaltiges drug is affected by the recall or even look there.

For those whose medication belongs to the contaminated, advises the German high pressure league for a speedy exchange. "Go to your doctor or pharmacist, but do not simply stop taking the medication," said the expert.

Own initiative of the patients asked

Now, above all, the patient's own initiative is required, because they can not rely on the doctor calling the affected person and asking for the exchange of the medication.

"The doctors usually prescribe the drug, but do not know which drug was given to the patient by the pharmacist and therefore can not proactively approach the affected patients," explains Professor. Peter Trenkwalder, Deputy CEO of DHL.

"At the moment we have only left to ask patients to self-study and also to appeal to their adherence!" (Ad)