Blood Pressure Medication Recalled in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin

A nationwide recall of a popular blood pressure medication impacts more than half-million bottles of the product, which is also sold in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. 

New Jersey-based Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. initiated a recall of Prazosin Hydrochloride, a very popular blood pressure medication, due to concerns it contains unsafe levels of a cancer-causing chemical. The recall was initiated on October 7th for 580,844 bottles with drugs that come in doses of 1mg, 2mg, and 5mg, per NBC 5 Chicago.

READ MORE: Thousands of Tubs of Ice Cream Recalled in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin

55 lots of the pills were recalled in total. The list of impacted lot codes is substantial, to the say the least, but can be found in their entirety here.

A report from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) showed that capsules of Prazosin Hydrochloride after tests for the pills revealed above acceptable intake limits for N-nitroso Prazosin impurity C," which is chemical compound linked to cancer. N-nitrosamine impurities are a class of potentially cancer-causing chemicals that can form during the manufacturing or storage of a particular drug.

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Per the Health Hazard Assessment by Teva USA, the overall harm level for this product is considered "medium." Teva told NBC 5 Chicago that those who take the medication are advised to contact their pharmacy to determine what to do with the remaining pills. As of now, Teva claims they haven't received any "relevant complaints" related to the product:

Prazosin is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure, and there are many alternative treatments available to patients. Teva prioritizes patient safety and product quality at every stage of a medicine’s lifecycle. In addition, consumers with questions or concerns should also contact the health care provider who prescribed the medication - Teva's statement on the recall, per NBC 5 Chicago

Prazosin is an alpha-blocker that relaxes blood vessels and helps lower blood pressure in users. It's also prescribed for nightmares and other sleep disturbances caused by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Read more about the ongoing Prazosin recall on NBC 5 Chicago's website.