The FDA has issued a recall of over half a million bottles of blood pressure medication due to a cancerous chemical. In October Teva Pharmaceuticals, a company based in New Jersey, voluntarily recalled a drug called prazosin hydrochloride, which is used for treating high blood pressure, PTSD-related side effects, and more. In 2021 the drug was in the top 200 most commonly prescribed medications in the United States, per ClinCalc, with over 2.6 million prescriptions.
Drug recalled for going over the limit of a cancerous chemical
The FDA reports that the affected capsules contain nitrosamine impurities, specifically called “N-Nitroso Prazosin impurity C” in the official report, that go beyond the safety limit set by the Carcinogenic Potency Categorization Approach (CPCA).
The agency has issued a Class II recall for the product as it “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences,” according to FDA guidelines.
The affected prazosin hydrochloride capsules come in various dosages and sizes. The 1-mg capsules are packaged in 100-count and 1,000-count bottles, the 2-mg capsules are also packaged in 100-count and 1,000-count bottles, and the 5-mg capsules come in 100-count, 250-count, and 500-count bottles.
There is a long list of lot numbers associated with each of the three types prazosin hydrochloride being recalled. This list can be found in the official report, which shares the expiration date for each lot to make it easier for consumers to find. The expiration dates for the affected capsules range from October 2025 and September 2026.
Neither the FDA nor Teva Pharmaceuticals have issued guidance on what consumers should do if they have capsules affected by this recall. That said, it is recommended that they contact their prescribing doctor or their place of purchase for a refund or a prescription refill.
This week, over 140,000 bottles of cholesterol medication was recalled. Two popular Halloween candies have been recalled too over undeclared allergens.
