More than half a million bottles of blood pressure medication have been recalled over high levels of a chemical compound that could cause cancer, the Food and Drug Administration said.
Parsippany, NJ-based Teva Pharmaceuticals USA recalled 580,844 bottles of Prazosin Hydrochloride earlier this month.
The medication is an alpha blocker taken to lower high blood pressure.
Testing revealed high levels of “N-nitroso Prazosin impurity C” in the drug, the FDA said last week.
The chemical’s concentration was so high that it surpassed the FDA’s safety limits for its potential to cause cancer.
Different versions of the drug – including 1 mg, 2 mg and 5 mg doses – were included in the recall affecting bottles with anywhere from 100 to 1,000 capsules.
The FDA recently classified the recall as Class II, which is the second-highest of three risk levels.
A Class II label indicates that use of the medication “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote,” according to the agency.
“This recall has been initiated in coordination with the FDA and to date Teva has not received any relevant complaints related to this product,” Teva Pharmaceuticals USA told The Post in a statement.
“Prazosin is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure, and there are many alternative treatments available to patients.”
The drugmaker said patients should contact the pharmacy that gave them the prescription and the healthcare provider who prescribed it.
