Did you know that your blood pressure drug could be contaminated with ingredients that might increase your risk of cancer? This unwelcome discovery could affect numerous patients in the U.S. who face a small but serious risk of impurities in the blood pressure medicine valsartan.

What Drug is Affected?

A popular blood pressure medicine, valsartan, has been named in a new round of lawsuits from consumers who argue that they took this medication assuming it would improve their health but actually suffered devastating side effects due to contamination of the tablet.

The recall for valsartan was recently expanded to incorporate 36 additional lots, according to news recently released by Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Other generic blood pressure drugs were found to be at risk for contamination, and these were also recalled. The affected tablets include losartan potassium and losartan potassium/hydrochlorothiazide tablets. The recall was expanded due to the discovery of trace amounts of a cancer causing impurity inside the drugs.

Who Takes Valsartan?

Doctors prescribe losartan for  patients who have type-2 diabetes with nephropathy and  patients who have high blood pressure. Patients who are currently taking these medications and the blood pressure medicine valsartan and are curious about whether or not their lots are affected by the recall are encouraged to speak to their physicians directly as there could be serious side effects associated with discontinuing the medicine.

The original recall has been expanded multiple times since last July and one Chinese company was placed on an import alert after the FDA discovered that the tainted ingredient was made by that company. This one tainted ingredient was at the center of many of the blood pressure medicine recalls and is a chemical that is used as a lubricant additive and as a stabilizer in gasoline.

The blood pressure drug recall has been expanded for the fifth time this year, according to NBC News. Reports show that not every version of the widely used medication is contaminated but that the recalls continue to be announced and that those patients taking the drug could be at risk of developing potential cancer.

What is the Current Status of Valsartan Litigation?

In the district of New Jersey, the first case management conference for the valsartan MDL was recently held at the end of March. There were approximately 40 cases filed and consolidated in front of the judge at that point in time, but it is expected that thousands of lawsuits would be filed in the coming years.

The news about the potential contamination was originally raised in July 2018 because of the discovery of the impurity. Some types of cancer could develop in those patients who take the affected drugs. While the risk of cancer is relatively low, many of these patients rely on these blood pressure drugs as a critical component of their overall health and wellness regimen and might not realize the enhanced safety risk of using the drug. If you or someone you know has developed cancer for what you believe to be the use of this medicine, consider scheduling a consultation with an attorney.