The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a recall of more than half a million bottles of the blood pressure medication prazosin hydrochloride over concerns that the drug may contain a cancer-causing chemical.
New Jersey-based Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, along with drug distributor Amerisource Health Services, issued voluntary nationwide recalls earlier this month. The recall affects over 580,000 bottles of various strengths of prazosin capsules, according to the FDA.
Prazosin is commonly prescribed to lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels. Additionally, it is sometimes used to treat nightmares and other sleep disturbances associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The FDA has classified the affected lots of prazosin with a Class II risk classification, indicating a potential health hazard. This classification is due to the possible presence of nitrosamine impurities in some of the recalled medication. Nitrosamines are chemicals considered potentially cancer-causing.
According to the FDA, N-nitrosamine impurities are a group of substances that can form during the manufacturing process or storage of a drug, posing a potential cancer risk to patients.
Patients currently taking prazosin should consult their healthcare providers for guidance and check the FDA’s website for the latest updates on the recall.
https://abc7.com/post/blood-medication-recall-fda-says-teva-pharmaceuticals-usa-recalled-prazosin-hydrochloride-cancer-causing-chemical-concern/18099551/
