Harmful Antihypertensives Carcinogenic toxins have been found in these hypertensive pills

Losartan: After valsartan recall discovered impurities in another antihypertensive

After a recall campaign for high blood pressure remedies with valsartan was started a few weeks ago, it has now become known that other antihypertensives were contaminated. According to the information, the affected drugs are no longer delivered to the market.

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. Now impurities have been discovered in other sartans.

A few weeks ago it became known that certain antihypertensive drugs were contaminated with carcinogenic substances. Now impurities have been detected in other preparations. (Image: benjaminnolte / fotolia.com)

Impurities in other blood pressure reducers

In the course of the scandal over the contaminated antihypertensives, finished medicinal products containing the active substance valsartan and other sartans are being investigated for NDMA (N-nitrosodimethylamine) or NDEA impurities as part of a European risk assessment procedure.

Details of the procedure can be obtained from the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

As reported by the BfArM, the investigation is being conducted by an independent official drug control agency (OMCL).

The OMCL has now found the impurity NDEA (N-nitrosodiethylamine) in small amounts in another sartan (losartan).

According to the information, the active substance losartan used in this medicine was manufactured by the Indian company Hetero Labs.

The pharmaceutical products concerned were quarantined by the pharmaceutical company and would therefore no longer be delivered to the market.

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. (Ad)