More blood pressure medication recalls
News briefs
- Reviewed by Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Drug manufacturer Pfizer announced a voluntary recall of some types of blood pressure drugs in March and April 2022. The move came after concerns that the drugs contained a potentially cancer-causing substance called N-nitroso-quinapril. The compound is a type of nitrosamine, which is found in low levels in food and water. Exposure to high levels of nitrosamines over time may increase the risk for cancer.
The drugs in the Pfizer recall include certain batches of Accupril (quinapril hydrochloride) tablets and Accuretic (quinapril hydrochloride plus hydrochlorothiazide) tablets distributed by Pfizer, as well as two related generic formulations distributed by Greenstone.
This latest recall comes a few years after other blood pressure medications were pulled from pharmacy shelves for the presence of another type of nitrosamine. For more information, call your doctor or pharmacist, and visit the HHP Medication Safety Watch (/msw).
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About the Author
Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
About the Reviewer
Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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