Advisory - Several drugs containing valsartan being recalled due to contamination with a potential carcinogen

Several drugs containing the ingredient valsartan are being recalled by their manufacturers.

OTTAWA, July 9, 2018 /CNW/ -

Issue: Several drugs containing the ingredient valsartan are being recalled by their manufacturers. An impurity, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), was found in the valsartan used in these products. The valsartan was supplied by Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals. NDMA is a potential human carcinogen, which means that it could cause cancer with long-term exposure. Five companies have affected products, which are being recalled (identified in table below).

Drugs containing valsartan are used to treat patients with high blood pressure to help prevent heart attacks and stroke. These drugs are also used in patients who have had heart failure or a recent heart attack.

Who is affected

  • Consumers who use any valsartan products in the table below.

Affected products

 Product name/Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient DIN Strength Lot # ------------------------- --- -------- ----- TEVA-VALSARTAN/HCTZ TABLETS PP 30s 02357046 320/25 mg 35212731R --------------------------- -------- --------- --------- TEVA-VALSARTAN/HCTZ TABLETS (Bulk) 02357046 320/25 mg 35212732 --------------------------- -------- --------- -------- ACT-VALSARTAN 40MG FC TABLETS 100 02337487 40 mg K47338 --------------------- -------- ----- ------ ACT-VALSARTAN 80MG FC TABLETS 100 02337495 80 mg K45370 --------------------- -------- ----- ------ ACT-VALSARTAN 80MG FC TABLETS 100 02337495 80 mg K47652 --------------------- -------- ----- ------ ACT-VALSARTAN 80MG FC TABLETS 100 02337495 80 mg K47653 --------------------- -------- ----- ------ ACT-VALSARTAN 80MG FC TABLETS 100 02337495 80mg K47654 --------------------- -------- ---- ------ ACT-VALSARTAN 160MG FC TABLETS 100 02337509 160 mg K39691 ---------------------- -------- ------ ------ ACT-VALSARTAN 160MG FC TABLETS 100 02337509 160 mg K44167 ---------------------- -------- ------ ------ ACT-VALSARTAN 160MG FC TABLETS 100 02337509 160 mg K47657 ---------------------- -------- ------ ------ ACT-VALSARTAN 160MG FC TABLETS 100 02337509 160 mg K47658 ---------------------- -------- ------ ------ ACT-VALSARTAN 320MG FC TABLETS 100 02337517 320 mg K44166 ---------------------- -------- ------ ------ ACT-VALSARTAN 320MG FC TABLETS 100 02337517 320 mg K45371 ---------------------- -------- ------ ------ SANDOZ VALSARTAN 40 MG 02356740 40 mg All lots ---------------------- -------- ----- -------- SANDOZ VALSARTAN 80 MG 02356759 80 mg All lots ---------------------- -------- ----- -------- SANDOZ VALSARTAN 160 MG 02356767 160 mg All lots ----------------------- -------- ------ -------- SANDOZ VALSARTAN 320 MG 02356775 320 mg All lots ----------------------- -------- ------ -------- SANIS VALSARTAN 40 MG 02366940 40 mg All lots --------------------- -------- ----- -------- SANIS VALSARTAN 80 MG 02366959 80 mg All lots --------------------- -------- ----- -------- SANIS VALSARTAN 160 MG 02366967 160 mg All lots ---------------------- -------- ------ -------- PRO DOC LIMITEE VALSARTAN 40 MG 02367726 40 mg All lots ---------------------------- -------- ----- -------- PRO DOC LIMITEE VALSARTAN 80 MG 02367734 80 mg All lots ---------------------------- -------- ----- -------- PRO DOC LIMITEE VALSARTAN 160 MG 02367742 160 mg All lots ----------------------------- -------- ------ -------- PRO DOC LIMITEE VALSARTAN 320 MG 02367750 320 mg All lots ----------------------------- -------- ------ -------- SIVEM PHARMACEUTICAL ULC VALSARTAN 40 MG 02384523 40 mg All lots ------------------------ -------- ----- -------- SIVEM PHARMACEUTICAL ULC VALSARTAN 80 MG 02384531 80 mg All lots ------------------------ -------- ----- -------- SIVEM PHARMACEUTICAL ULC VALSARTAN 160 MG 02384558 160 mg All lots ------------------------ -------- ------ -------- SIVEM PHARMACEUTICAL ULC VALSARTAN 320 MG 02384566 320 mg All lots ------------------------ -------- ------ -------- 

What consumers should do

  • Keep taking your medicine if it contains valsartan, unless you have been told to stop by your doctor or pharmacist.
  • If you are taking any medication containing valsartan, speak to your pharmacist who can tell you if your medicine is being recalled.
  • If you have been using an affected product, contact your health care practitioner as soon as possible to discuss your treatment options.
  • If you are in a clinical trial with a product containing valsartan and have any questions, speak to the doctor treating you in the trial.
  • Report side effects (adverse events) to health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free at 1?866?234?2345, or by reporting online, by mail or by fax.
  • Report complaints about health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free at 1?800?267?9675, or complete an online complaint form.

What Health Canada is doing

  • Health Canada is monitoring the companies’ recalls. Should additional safety information be identified, Health Canada will take appropriate action and inform Canadians.

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SOURCE Health Canada

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