In July 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began issuing hundreds of recalls for the popular high blood pressure and heart failure drug, Valsartan. Investigations are currently ongoing. A voluntary recall began because this generic drug was found to possibly contain the human carcinogen NDMA. If you or a loved one has taken this drug and have suffered as a result of the toxic exposure, our Valsartan recall lawyers are here for you.
What Is Valsartan?
Millions of adults in the United States suffer from high blood pressure. Valsartan is a generic component of commonly prescribed medications that are used to treat heart failure and high blood pressure. Usually in tablet form, physicians occasionally prescribe it to people who have type II diabetes or who have suffered from a heart attack.
Valsartan is the generic name of the drug Diovan. In 2017, more than 10 billion pills containing the drug were sold worldwide. Generally, individuals who suffer from high blood pressure take one pill daily and those taking it for heart failure take two.
The drug works by preventing the action of the hormone that causes blood vessels to constrict. While generic drugs are supposed to be of equal safety and quality to the brand-name version, this is not the case with Valsartan.
What Are the Dangers Associated With Valsartan?
The Chinese drug manufacturer Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical released a statement that N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) had been discovered in their generic Valsartan products. NDMA is a carcinogen, a cancer causing compound, that can be linked to tumors in the liver, kidneys, and respiratory tract.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides the following information on NDMA:
- It is a highly toxic, organic chemical compound
- It is created through an unintentional chemical reaction during the manufacturing process
- The drug appears as a yellow, oily liquid
- It breaks down quickly
- Entry into the body can occur by breathing, eating, or drinking
- The majority of the compound is metabolized through the liver and excreted through the lungs and urine
In addition to the cancers mentioned above, long-term exposure to NDMA is associated with nasal, lung, gastric, and colorectal cancers, and could cause cancerous conditions in all organs.
Individuals experiencing short-term side effects may develop fever, nausea, headaches, dizziness, vomiting, abdominal cramps, jaundice, or reduced functioning of internal organs.
If you experience any of those symptoms or are concerned about your medication, contact your doctor as soon as possible; however, the FDA reminds patients to continue taking all current medications until their pharmacist provides a replacement or their doctor prescribes different medication, because it can be dangerous to abruptly stop taking prescribed drugs.
Who Is Affected by the Recall?
Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical supplied the impure medication to drug companies in the Unites States including Major Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd., and Solco Healthcare, who then distributed them. Other manufacturers include Zhejiang Tianya Phara in China and Hetero Labs Limited in India.
As of October 24, 2018, here is a list of some of the Valsartan products that are under recall, separated by company:
Teva Pharmaceuticals labeled as Major Pharmaceuticals:
- Valsartan 80mg tablets
- Valsartan 160mg tablets
Prinston Pharmaceuticals Inc. labeled as Solco Healthcare LLC:
- Valsartan 40mg tablets, 30 count bottle
- Valsartan 80mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan 160mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan 320mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide 80mg/12.5mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide 160mg/12.5mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide 160mg/25mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide 320mg/12.5mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide 320mg/25mg tablets, 90 count bottle
Teva Pharmaceuticals Inc. labeled as Solco Healthcare LLC:
- Valsartan 40mg tablets, 30 count bottle
- Valsartan 40mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan 80mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan 80mg tablets, 1000 count bottle
- Valsartan 160mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan 160mg tablets, 1000 count bottle
- Valsartan 320mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan 320mg tablets, 500 count bottle
- Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide 80mg/12.5 mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide 160mg/12.5mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide 160mg/25mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide 320mg/12.5mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide 320mg/25mg tablets, 90 count bottle
AvKARE (Teva/Actavis):
- Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide 80mg/12.5mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide 160mg/12.5mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide 320mg/12.5mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide 160mg/25mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide 320mg/25mg tablets, 90 count bottle
RemedyRepack Inc. (Prinston/Solco):
- Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide 320mg/12.5mg tablets, 90 count bottle
- Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide 160mg/12.5 mg tablets, 90 count bottle
Other companies with issued recalls are:
- Bryan Ranch Prepack Inc. (Teva/Actavis)
- H J Harkins Company Inc. dba Pharma Pac (Prinston/Solco)
- Northwind Pharmaceuticals (Teva/Actavis)
- Hetero Labs, Inc. labeled as Camber Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- NurCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Prinston/Solco)
- RemedyRepack, Inc. (Hetero/Camber)
- AvKARE (Hetero/Camber)
- Preferred Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Hetero/Camber)
- Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited
- RemedyRepack, Inc. (Torrent)
For a complete collection of all recalls, take a look at the FDA’s list. Not all Valsartan products are being recalled. The FDA also has a list of medications that are not currently included.
How Can an Omaha Valsartan Recall Lawyer Help?
Our attorneys are currently investigating claims on behalf of clients who have been affected by the side effects of ingesting this known carcinogen. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer or lost a loved one after taking Valsartan, contact us as soon as possible. You may be qualified for monetary recovery if you meet the following qualifications:
- You’ve taken Valsartan for at least 30 days between 2014 to now
- You took Valsartan at least one year before developing cancer
- Your cancer diagnosis occurred no earlier than 2015
Because of the popularity of this drug, there could be tens of thousands of cancer cases. We can provide you with the legal representation you deserve, so you can recover compensation for any Valsartan-related medical expenses, lost wages, funeral expenses, and more. Reach out to our law firm discuss the specifics of your case during a free consultation.
To stay up-to-date on the FDA’s investigation, click here.
