Managing High Blood Pressure

A new study conducted by researchers from the European Society of Cardiology has found that many women may be receiving the wrong diagnosis for high blood pressure. According to their findings, roughly half of all women who present with high blood pressure symptoms are instead given treatment for menopause, which ultimately puts women at an increased risk for severe heart health issues. 

“High blood pressure is called hypertension for men, but in women it is often mistakenly labeled as ‘stress’ or ‘menopausal symptoms,’” said researcher Angela Maas. “We know that blood pressure is treated less well in women compared to men, putting them at risk for atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and stroke -- which could have been avoided.” 

Identifying women at risk

The researchers set out to provide resources for consumers and health care professionals on how to best identify and treat women who could be at the highest risk of high blood pressure in mid- or later-life. They explained that this starts with the understanding that men and women show different symptoms for the same condition, and it’s important to treat each patient on a case-by-case basis. 

“A woman’s life provides clues that you need to start early with prevention,” said Maas. “We have to assess female patients differently to men, and not just ask about high cholesterol. This will enable us to classify middle-aged women as high-risk or lower risk for cardiovascular disease.” 

In thinking about how to identify women at the highest risk of developing high blood pressure, the researchers recommend that health care professionals focus on women’s medical histories. Conditions that affect hormone levels throughout life can indicate whether or not women are at an increased risk of developing high blood pressure. Early menopause, high blood pressure during pregnancy (preeclampsia), and conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are some of the biggest risk factors associated with high blood pressure for women. 

“There are several phases of life when we can identify subgroups of high-risk women,” said Maas. “High blood pressure during pregnancy is a warning sign that hypertension may develop when a woman enters menopause and it is associated with dementia many decades later. If blood pressure is not addressed when women are in their 40s or 50s, they will have problems in their 70s when hypertension is more difficult to treat.”

Adopt healthy habits

For women at risk of developing high blood pressure in later life, the researchers recommend that healthy habits -- like following a healthy diet and adopting a regular exercise routine -- can make a significant difference. However, it’s also important for women and their doctors to look at the complete picture of their health history and work together to create the best course of treatment. 

“Women can help their doctors prevent heart problems and make earlier diagnoses by mentioning issues like complicated pregnancies and early menopause and monitoring their own blood pressure,” Maas said. 

Recent studies have highlighted the negative health effects associated with alcohol consumption -- even in the most limited quantities. Now, researchers from the American Heart Association have identified those with type 2 diabetes as a particularly vulnerable group when it comes to drinking.  

According to a new study, having more than one alcoholic drink per day could increase the risk of high blood pressure for those with type 2 diabetes. 

“This is the first large study to specifically investigate the association of alcohol intake and hypertension among adults with type 2 diabetes,” said researcher Dr. Matthew J. Singleton. “Previous studies have suggested that heavy alcohol consumption was associated with high blood pressure, however, the association of moderate alcohol consumption with high blood pressure was unclear.” 

The risks of moderate alcohol consumption

The researchers had over 10,000 participants, all with type 2 diabetes, participate in the study. At the start of the study, the participants reported on how many alcoholic beverages they consumed per week, and the researchers monitored their blood pressure readings over the course of the study. 

The biggest takeaway that the researchers gleaned was that excessive alcohol consumption greatly increases consumers’ risk of high blood pressure. However, they learned that even drinking moderately throughout the week can be problematic for those struggling with type 2 diabetes. Moderate drinking was defined as having eight to 14 drinks per week, and participants who fell into this group were nearly 80 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure. 

These findings were consistent with those from another study, which found that moderate drinking for all consumers -- regardless of diabetes status -- can have a negative impact on blood pressure. 

Limiting alcohol consumption

The researchers learned that having a few drinks each week didn’t compromise participants’ blood pressure. Because of this, they recommend that consumers with type 2 diabetes take these findings into consideration when thinking about their own alcohol consumption. 

“People with type 2 diabetes are at a higher cardiovascular risk, and our findings indicate that alcohol consumption is associated with hypertension, so limited drinking is recommended,” said Dr. Singleton. 

With more and more pregnant women struggling with high blood pressure, researchers from the Mayo Clinic explored the long-term effects of hypertension in a new study. 

The experts found that women who experience high blood pressure during pregnancy could be at an increased risk of experiencing more severe symptoms during menopause. 

“We already know that women with high blood pressure during pregnancy or those who experience menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats have a higher risk of developing heart disease,” said researcher Dr. Stephanie Faubion. “Our research discovered that women who experienced high blood pressure during pregnancy were much more likely to experience bothersome menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats during menopause.” 

Uncovering the link between the symptoms

To better understand the link between hypertension during pregnancy and more severe symptoms during menopause, the researchers had over 2,600 women between the ages of 40 and 65 complete surveys that asked questions about a wide range of symptoms. The participants reported on their health and related symptoms during pregnancy, as well as what their experiences were like with menopause. 

The researchers learned that women who experienced more severe menopause symptoms -- like extreme hot flashes or night sweats -- were the same women who had high blood pressure during pregnancy. Despite such a strong link between the two conditions, it’s still unclear to the researchers why this trend has emerged. 

Reducing the risk for heart disease

The researchers explained that the biggest concern for those with more severe menopause symptoms is developing other health issues, like cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have highlighted how intense hot flashes can be an indicator of heart health concerns. 

The researchers hope that these findings inspire medical professionals to closely monitor women showing any combination of these symptoms, as they could be a sign of a more serious health condition. 

“We know medical providers have historically done a lousy job identifying and following women with histories of high blood pressure disorders during pregnancy, despite knowing that they have a higher heart disease risk,” Dr. Faubion said. “This study is another reminder that these women are different. It is important that they not only receive education with regard to what they may experience during menopause, but also that they undergo routine screenings and counseling on how they can reduce their risk for heart disease.” 

High blood pressure is something all consumers need to keep an eye on, but a new study shows that pregnant women can be especially susceptible to the condition. 

Researchers from the American Heart Association (AHA) found that cases of high blood pressure among pregnant women have been steadily increasing over the last 40 years. Those findings are dangerous because high blood pressure can be harmful to both mothers and their newborns. 

“Women who already have high blood pressure and are planning to become pregnant should work closely with their healthcare provider to closely monitor and manage their blood pressure, especially during pregnancy, to reduce the serious health risks to both themselves and their unborn child,” said researcher Cande V. Ananth, PhD. 

Monitoring potential health risks

The researchers utilized data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) to determine blood pressure trends among pregnant women between 1970 and 2010. 

In that time, over 151 million were hospitalized due to changes in blood pressure, all of whom were between the ages of 15 and 49. For the purpose of the study, the researchers were focused on women who either had high blood pressure before getting pregnant or were diagnosed with the condition up to 20 weeks into pregnancy. 

The researchers discovered that while just over 0.10 percent of pregnant women had chronic high blood pressure at the start of the study in 1970, that figure jumped exponentially by 2010, with over 1.5 percent of pregnant women experiencing chronic high blood pressure by that date. 

The study revealed that women who waited until later in life to become pregnant were at a greater risk of developing chronic high blood pressure during pregnancy, as were African American women, though the researchers were unsure as to why this particular trend emerged. 

“We found that mothers who were older when they became pregnant were likely to have chronic hypertension,” said Dr. Ananth. “Since more women are electing to postpone their first pregnancies, and advanced maternal age is strongly associated with chronic high blood pressure, women should be aware of the risks associated with having high blood pressure during pregnancy.” 

Macleods Pharmaceuticals Limited is recalling Losartan Potassium tablets and Losartan Potassium/Hydrochlorothiazide combination tablets used to treat hypertension and hypertensive patients with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy.

The products contain trace amounts of N-Nitroso N-Methyl 4-amino butyric acid (NMBA), a potential human carcinogen.

The firm has not received any reports of adverse events to date.

The following products, packaged in bottles, are being recalled:

The products can be identified by checking the product name, manufacturer details and batch or lot number on the bottle.

What to do

Patients who are on the recalled medications should continue taking them and contact their pharmacist, physician, or medical provider for advice regarding an alternative treatment, as the risk of harm to the patient's health may be higher if the treatment is stopped immediately without any alternative treatment.

Patients with medical questions regarding this recall or to report an adverse event may contact Macleods at (855) 926-3384 (8:00 am – 5:00 pm (EST).

Macleods is arranging for return of all recalled products to Qualanex. Instructions for returning recalled products are given in the recall letter.

Consumers with general questions regarding the return of the recalled product may contact Qualanex (888) 280-2046, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm (CST) Monday – Friday or by email at recall@qualanex .com.

Teva Pharmaceuticals USA is expanding an earlier recall of losartan potassium tablets used for the treatment of hypertension, hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy, and nephropathy in Type 2 diabetic patients.

The product contains trace amounts of N-Nitroso N-Methyl 4-amino butyric acid (NMBA), a potential human carcinogen.

The expansion includes six (6) lots of bulk losartan potassium USP tablets: two lots of 50-mg strength and four lots of 100-mg strength.

• Losartan potassium tablets, USP 50 mg, are green, film-coated, oval-shaped biconvex tablets with “LK 50” on one side and ">" on the other side.
• Losartan potassium tablets, USP 100 mg, are dark green, film-coated, oval-shaped biconvex tablets with “LK100” on one side and ">" on the other side.

The bulk lots were sold exclusively to Golden State Medical Supply, of Camarillo, Calif, which packaged these bulk products under its own label and distributed retail bottles of 30, 90 and 1000 tablets to their customers.

The finished product lots included in this recall and listed below were sold by Teva in bulk containers.

The bulk tablet lots were repackaged into seven (7) finished product lots for further distribution by Golden State Medical Supply under its product label.

What to do

Patients taking Losartan Potassium tablets are advised to continue taking their medication and contact their pharmacist, physician, or medical provider for advice regarding an alternative treatment. The immediate risk of harm to a patient’s health is likely to be higher if the medicine is stopped abruptly without any alternative treatment.

Patients with medical-related questions, who wish to report an adverse event, or quality issues about the recalled products may contact Teva Medical Information by at (888)838-2872, option 3, then, option 4, Monday-Friday, 9:00AM – 5:00PM (ET) with voicemail available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, or by email at druginfo@tevapharm.com.

Patients wishing to return product may contact Teva’s product recall processor (Inmar) to obtain instructions and a return kit for returning their medication.

Contact Inmar at (877) 789-2065 from 9 am to 5 pm (ET) Monday – Friday) or by email Inmar at: tevarecalls@inmar.com.

Inmar will provide the materials needed to return their medication and instructions for reimbursement.

Vivimed Life Sciences is recalling 19 lots of Losartan Potassium 25-mg, 50-mg, and 100-mg tablets used for the treatment of hypertension, hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy, and nephropathy in Type 2 diabetic patients.

The product contains trace amounts of N-Nitroso N-Methyl 4-amino butyric acid (NMBA), a potential human carcinogen.

There are no reports of adverse events to date related to this recall.

The following 19 lot numbers of Losartan Potassium tablets are being recalled:

The recalled products were distributed nationwide to wholesalers, distributors, retail pharmacies, and mail order pharmacies.

What to do

Patients should contact their doctor for further guidance and potential change of treatment before they stop taking the product.

Consumers with questions regarding the recall may call (877) 861-3811, Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm (EST).

Teva Pharmaceuticals USA is recalling 35 lots of bulk Losartan Potassium USP tablets used for the treatment of hypertension, hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy, and nephropathy in Type 2 diabetic patients.

The product contains trace amounts of N-Nitroso N-Methyl 4-amino butyric acid (NMBA), a potential human carcinogen.

The lots were sold exclusively to Golden State Medical Supply of Camarillo, Calif. Golden State Medical Supply packages this bulk product under its own label and distributes in retail bottles of 30, 90, and 1000 tablets.

Teva has not received any reports to date of adverse events related to the lots being recalled.

The finished product lots included in this voluntary recall and listed below were sold by Teva in bulk containers.

The bulk tablet lots were repackaged into 44 finished products lots for further distribution by Golden State Medical Supply under its product label.

The recalled tablets are described as:

• Losartan Potassium tablets, USP 25 mg, are light-green, film-coated, teardrop-shaped biconvex tablet with “LK 25” on one side and ">" on the other side.
• Losartan Potassium tablets, USP 100 mg, are dark green, film-coated, oval-shaped biconvex tablets with “LK100” on one side and ">" on the other side.

What to do

Patients taking Losartan Potassium tablets are advised to continue taking their medication and contact their pharmacist, physician, or medical provider for advice regarding an alternative treatment. The immediate risk of harm to a patient’s health is likely to be higher if the medicine is stopped abruptly without any alternative treatment.

Patients with medical-related questions, who wish to report an adverse event, or quality issues about the recalled products may contact Teva Medical Information by at (888)838-2872, option 3, then, option 4, Monday-Friday, 9:00AM – 5:00PM (ET) with voicemail available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, or by email at druginfo@tevapharm.com.

Patients wishing to return product may contact Teva’s product recall processor (Inmar) to obtain instructions and a return kit for returning their medication.

Contact Inmar at (877) 789-2065 from 9 am to 5 pm (ET) Monday – Friday) or by email Inmar at: tevarecalls@inmar.com.

Inmar will provide the materials needed to return their medication and instructions for reimbursement.

Legacy Pharmaceutical Packaging is expanding its earlier recall of Losartan Potassium tablets, a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure, to include one additional lot.

The product contains trace amounts of N-Nitroso N-Methyl 4-amino butyric acid (NMBA), a potential human carcinogen.

Legacy has not received any reports of adverse events to date.

The following four repackaged lots numbers (3 initial repackaged lot and 1 expanded repackaged lot) , are being recalled:

The product can be identified by checking the product name and repackaged lot number on the bottle containing these products.

The recalled product was distributed by pharmacies nationwide.

What to do

Legacy is notifying its customers in writing and is arranging/assisting for return of all recalled products to Inmar Pharmaceutical Services.

Instructions for returning recalled products are provided in the recall letter.

Consumers with questions may contact Inmar at (877) 538-8443, Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm EST.

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited is expanding its earlier recall of Losartan Potassium tablets and Losartan Potassium/hydrochlorothiazide tablets.

The products, used to treat high blood pressure, hypertensive patients with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and nephropathy in Type 2 diabetic patients, contain trace amounts of an unexpected impurity, N-Methylnitrosobutyric acid that are above the acceptable daily intake levels released by the FDA.

There are no reports to date of adverse events related to this recall.

The expanded recall includes the following 36 lots of Losartan potassium tablets and 68 lots of Losartan Potassium/Hydrochlorothiazide tablets:

What to do

Patients who are taking the recalled products should continue taking their medication, as the risk of harm to the patient’s health may be higher if the treatment is stopped immediately without any alternative treatment.

Patients should contact their pharmacist or physician who can advise them about an alternative treatment prior to returning their medication.

Torrent is notifying its customers by phone and in writing, and arranging for return of all recalled products to Qualanex. Instructions for returning recalled products are given in the recall letter.

Consumers with medical questions regarding this recall or to report an adverse event may contact Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited at (800) 912-9561 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (ET) with voicemail available 24/7, or by email at Medinfo.Torrent@apcerls.com

Consumers with general questions regarding the return of the recalled product may contact Qualanex at (888) 280-2040 from 8 am - 9:00 pm ET).

Legacy Pharmaceutical Packaging is recalling 40 repackaged lots of Losartan tablets, a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure.

The product contains trace amounts of N-Nitroso N-Methyl 4-amino butyric acid (NMBA), a potential human carcinogen.

Legacy has not received any reports of adverse events to date.

The following product, packaged in 30-count bottles, is being recalled:

The recalled product, which can be identified by checking the product name and repackaged lot number on the bottle, was distributed by pharmacies nationwide.

What to do

Patients who have the recalled product should return it to the dispensing pharmacy.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall should contact their dispensing pharmacy during normal business hours or their physician or healthcare provider if they have had any problems related to taking or using the product.

American Health Packaging is recalling one lot of Valsartan tablets, which are used to control high blood pressure and for the treatment of heart failure.

Trace amounts of an unexpected impurity, N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) -- a probable human carcinogen – have been found in the product.

There are no reports of injury or adverse events to date.

The following product, which was distributed nationwide, is being recalled:

What to do

Patients should continue taking their medication, as the risk of harm to their health may be higher if the treatment is stopped immediately without any alternative treatment. Patients should contact their pharmacist or physician who can advise them about an alternative treatment prior to returning their medication.

Consumers who have the recalled product should call (877) 475-5864 to receive a return packet.

AurobindoPharma USA and Acetris Health are expanding an earlier recall of Valsartan and Amlodipine and Valsartan tablets, which are used to control high blood pressure and for the treatment of heart failure.

Trace amounts of an unexpected impurity, N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) -- a probable human carcinogen – have been found in the product.

The following products, packaged in bottles, are being recalled:

The recalled products were distributed nationwide.

What to do

Patients should continue taking their medication, as the risk of harm to their health may be higher if the treatment is stopped immediately without any alternative treatment. Patients should contact their pharmacist or physician who can advise them about an alternative treatment prior to returning their medication.

AurobindoPharma is notifying its customers by phone and in writing and arranging for return of all recalled products. Instructions for returning recalled products are given in the recall letter.

Consumers with medical questions regarding this recall may contact AurobindoPharma at (866) 850- 2876, Option 2 or by email at pvg@aurobindousa.com.

Recent studies have noted the health risks associated with consuming alcohol -- even in moderation. Now, consumers can add blood pressure to the list of potential issues.

According to a new study, consuming as few as seven to 13 drinks per week can lead to high blood pressure.

“I think this will be a turning point for clinical practice, as well as for future research, education, and public health policy regarding alcohol consumption,” said researcher Dr. Amer Aladin. “It’s the first study showing that both heavy and moderate alcohol consumption can increase hypertension.”

Moderation is still a risk

To gauge the relationship between alcohol consumption and blood pressure, the researchers utilized six years worth of data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES).

The researchers included over 17,000 participants in the study, dividing them into three groups based on how much they drank: one group for those who never drank, another group for those who drank moderately (seven to 13 drinks per week), and a third group for heavy drinkers (14 or more drinks per week).

The researchers evaluated blood pressure using the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association’s (AHA) 2017 guidelines, which lowers the barometer for what was traditionally considered hypertensive to 130/80 mm Hg, and places a normal blood pressure at 120/80 mm Hg.

The biggest takeaway from the study was that the more the participants drank on a weekly basis, the greater their likelihood of developing stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension. Heavy drinkers were the most affected, as the researchers found that these participants had a nearly 70 percent chance of developing stage 1 hypertension. They were also nearly 2.5 times as likely to develop stage 2 hypertension.

Moderate drinkers fared only slightly better, showing an over 50 percent risk of stage 1 hypertension and double the risk of developing stage 2 hypertension. The researchers hope these findings are beneficial for consumers moving forward, and that they pay close to attention to both their blood pressure readings and alcohol intake in the future.

“This study is not only large, but diverse in terms of race and gender,” Dr. Aladin said. “The results are very informative for future research and practice. If you are drinking a moderate or large amount of alcohol, ask your provider to check your blood pressure at each visit and help you cut down your drinking and eventually quit.”

Maintaining healthy blood pressure

Keeping blood pressure within a healthy range can be difficult for many consumers, but researchers have figured out several ways to make the process a bit easier.

Researchers recently found that both blueberries and napping can be effective for lowering blood pressure. Laws that regulate smoking indoors have also been linked to lowering blood pressure.

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited is recalling 60 lots of Losartan potassium tablets and 54 lots of Losartan potassium/ hydrochlorothiazide tablets

The products, used to treat high blood pressure, contain trace amounts of an unexpected impurity, N-Methylnitrosobutyric acid (NMBA), that are above the acceptable daily intake levels released by the FDA.

There are no reports to date of adverse events related to this recall.

The following products are being recalled:

The recalled products were distributed nationwide to Torrent’s wholesale distributor, repackager and retail customers

What to do

Patients who are taking the medications should continue to do so, as the risk of harm to their health may be higher if the treatment is stopped immediately without any alternative treatment.

Patients should contact their pharmacist or physician who can advise them about an alternative treatment prior to returning their medication.

Torrent is arranging for return of all recalled products to Qualanex. Instructions for returning recalled products are given in a letter being sent to all customers.

Consumers with medical questions regarding this recall may contact Torrent Pharmaceuticals at (800) 912-9561 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (ET) or by email at Medinfo.Torrent@apcerls.com

Camber Pharmaceuticals is recalling 87 lots of Losartan Tablets, a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure.

Trace amounts of N-Nitroso N-Methyl 4-amino butyric acid (NMBA), a potential human carcinogen, were detected in the product.

There have been no reports of adverse events related to this recall to date.

The following 87 lot numbers are being recalled:

The recalled products were distributed nationwide to wholesalers, distributors, retail pharmacies, and mail order pharmacies.

What to do

Camber’s distributors and other customers are being notified by recall letter and arrangements are being made for return of the recalled products.

Consumers should contact their doctor for further guidance and potential change of treatment before they stop taking the product.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall may contact Camber Pharmaceuticals’ Med Line at (866) 495-1995 Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm (EST).

Macleods Pharmaceuticals Limited is recalling one lot of Losartan Potassium/Hydrochlorothiazide combination tablets, a high blood pressure treatment.

Trace amounts of an unexpected impurity -- N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) -- were detected found in the product. NDEA, which occurs naturally in certain foods, drinking water, air pollution, and industrial processes, has been classified as a probable human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

There are no reports of adverse events related to this recall.

The following product, which is packaged in bottles, is being recalled:

• NDC: 33342-0052-10
• Manufacturer: Macleods Pharmaceuticals Limited
• Product Description: Losartan Potassium/ Hydrochlorothiazide combination tablets 100mg/25mg, 90 count bottles
• Lot/Batch: BLM715A
• Expiration Date: Jul -2019

The recalled product was sold nationwide to Macleods wholesale distributor and retail customers.

What to do

Macleods Pharmaceuticals is notifying its customers by phone and/or in writing. Instructions for returning recalled products are given in the recall letter.

Consumers with questions regarding the return of the recalled product may contact Qualanex at (888) 280-2042 from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm (CST) Monday – Friday or by email at recall@qualanex.com.

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited is expanding its earlier recall of Losartan potassium tablets USP to include six lots of Losartan potassium and hydrochlorothiazide tablets, USP.

Trace amounts of an unexpected impurity, N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), which has been classified as a probable human carcinogen as per International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classification.

There have been no reports of adverse events.

The following products, used to treat hypertension, hypertensive patients with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and for the treatment of nephropathy in Type 2 diabetic patients, are being recalled:

The recalled products were distributed nationwide to Torrent’s wholesale distributor, repackager and retail customers.

What to do

Patients who are on Losartan should continue taking their medication, as the risk of harm to the patient’s health may be higher if the treatment is stopped immediately without any alternative treatment.

Patients should contact their pharmacist or physician who can advise them about an alternative treatment prior to returning their medication.

Torrent Pharmaceuticals is notifying customers by phone and in writing, arranging for return of all recalled products to Qualanex. Instructions for returning recalled products are given in the recall letter.

Consumers with medical questions or reporting an adverse event may contact Torrent at (800) 912-9561 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (ET), or by email at Medinfo.Torrent@apcerls.com

Questions regarding the return of the recalled product may be be directed to Qualanex at (888) 280-2040 from 8 am - 9:00 pm (ET).

Prinston Pharmaceutical, doing business as Solco Healthcare, is recalling one lot of Irbesartan and seven lots of Irbesartan HCTZ tablets.

The products contain a trace amount of N- nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) above the acceptable daily intake levels released by the FDA. NDEA has been classified as a probable human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Prinston Pharmaceutical has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall to date.

The following products, used to control high blood pressure and for the treatment of heart failure, are being recalled:

The recalled product, which can be identified by checking the product name, manufacturer details and batch or lot number on the bottle, were distributed nationwide.

What to do

Patients should contact their pharmacist or physician who can advise them about an alternative treatment prior to returning their medication. Patients who are on Irbesartan should continue taking their medication, until their pharmacist provides a replacement, or their doctor prescribes a different medication that treats the same condition. The risk of harm to a patient’s health may be higher if the treatment is stopped immediately without any alternative treatment.

For a return label, consumers may contact the company at (609) 451-1000 or by email at customerservice@solcohealthcare.com.

Aurobindo Pharma USA is recalling 80 lots of Amlodipine Valsartan Tablets USP, Valsartan HCTZ Tablets, USP and Valsartan Tablets USP.

Trace amounts of an unexpected impurity, N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) -- a probable human carcinogen -- were found in the finished drug product.

There are no reports of adverse events related to this recall.

The following products, which are packaged in bottles, are being recalled:

What to do

Patients who are prescribed the recalled medications, which are used to control high blood pressure and for the treatment of heart failure should continue taking them, as the risk of harm to the patient’s health may be higher if the treatment is stopped immediately without any alternative treatment.

Patients should contact their pharmacist or physician who can advise them about an alternative treatment prior to returning their medication.

The company is notifying customers by phone and in writing with instructions for returning recalled products.

Patients with medical questions regarding this recall or to report an adverse event may contact Aurobindo Pharma USA at (866) 850-2876 (Option 2) or by email at pvg@aurobindousa.com.

Consumers with questions may contact Inmar\CLS-Medturn at (877) 208-2407 9 am -5:00 pm (ET) or by email at rxrecalls@inmar.com.

Mylan Pharmaceuticals is recalling select lots of Valsartan-containing products, used in the treatment of high bloodpressure.

The products contain trace amounts of an impurity, N-nitrosodiethylamine, which has been classified as a probable human carcinogen.

The following batches of products, distributed in the U.S. between March 2017, and November 2018, are being recalled:

What to do

Patients should contact their pharmacist or physician who can advise them about an alternative treatment prior to returning their medication.

Patients who are on valsartan should continue taking their medication, as the risk of harm to the patient's health may be higher if the treatment is stopped immediately without any alternative treatment.

Consumers in possession of recalled product should contact Stericycle at (888) 406-9305 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (EST) for the return of the recalled product.

As over 100 million Americans suffer from high blood pressure, consumers should be informed of any potential treatment options available to them.

Recently, researchers from the University of Utah Health found that adhering to the latest blood pressure guidelines from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) may be the key to preventing millions of cardiovascular issues in the coming years.

“Treating high blood pressure is a major public health opportunity to protect health and quality of life for tens of millions of Americans,” said lead researcher Adam Bress. “Achieving these lower goals will be challenging.”

Following the guidelines

The ACC/AHA guidelines lowered the standards for what is considered high blood pressure in an effort to have healthcare professionals try to help patients at earlier stages.

According to the researchers, most cardiovascular issues occur in patients whose blood pressure is above 140/90 mm Hg -- what was previously considered hypertensive. However, under the new guidelines, patients’ blood pressure would be considered hypertensive at 130/80 mm Hg, while a healthy reading would be 120/80 mm Hg.

The researchers used information from the ACC/AHA guidelines, the seventh Joint National Committee (JNC7), the eighth Joint National Committee (JNC8), and several population-based databases to predict the ways cardiovascular health can be improved in the coming years.

They foresee over three million cardiovascular issues could be prevented if patients stick to the ACC/AHA’s 2017 guidelines.

While adhering to these guidelines could be beneficial to millions of Americans, researchers from the ACC/AHA also suggest that many more people will be classified as having high blood pressure. More young people will now be included in this demographic, and the researchers expect more men to be affected than women.

Putting patients first

Though the researchers think these findings could help millions of people prevent future health complications, they are also aware of the risks associated with diagnosing more people with high blood pressure.

Not only is cost a major factor, but healthcare providers that prescribe high blood pressure medication will need to monitor all patients to ensure that they don’t experience any adverse side effects.

Overall, Bress and his team believe that medical professionals need to work together with their patients to determine the best course of treatment.

“A conversation and shared decision making between provider and patient about benefits and risks of increasing the dose of a medication or adding a new medication to achieve a lower target are important,” Bress said. “Benefits to reduce the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and heart failure are clear and may often outweigh risk of minor, transient side-effects.”

Maintaining healthy blood pressure

Recent studies have explored the countless benefits associated with consumers maintaining healthy blood pressure. For diabetes sufferers, keeping blood pressure under control was found to reduce the number of patients who experience extreme hypertension -- which often leads to organ failure.

“Given the fact that the presence of severely elevated blood pressure is the strongest driver of damage to vital organs in individuals with diabetes, the most important intervention for preventing hypertensive emergencies would be to better manage patients’ blood pressure,” said lead researcher Irina Benenson.

A recent study also found that teens with high blood pressure could actually be at risk for organ damage. Researchers determined that testing teenagers’ blood pressure has often provided inconclusive results, as many whose numbers fall within normal levels were found to be suffering from organ damage.

Changes to diet, exercise, and weight were found to effective for treating teens’ high blood pressure, though medication is sometimes necessary.

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited is expanding an earlier recall to include all lots of Valsartan/Amlodipine/HCTZ, Valsartan/Amlodipine and Valsartan tablets.

Trace amounts of N-Nitrosodimethylamine impurity were found in an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API).

NDMA is classified as a probable human carcinogen (a substance that could cause cancer).

The company has not received any reports of adverse events to date related to this recall.

Valsartan is used to control high blood pressure and for the treatment of heart failure. In combination with amlodipine or amlodipine plus hydrochlorothiazide, it is used to control high blood pressure.

The following products, packaged in bottles and distributed nationwide, are being recalled:

What to do

The company is arranging for return of all recalled products to Qualanex LLC, with instructions for returning recalled products are given in the recall letter.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall or reporting an adverse event may contact Torrent at (800) 912-9561 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, or by email at Medinfo.Torrent@apcerls.com.

For general questions regarding the return of the recalled products, contact Qualanex at (800) 505-9291 from 8 am -5:30 pm (ET).

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited is recalling 14 lots of Valsartan/Amlodipine/HCTZ tablets.

Trace Amounts of N-Nitrosodimethylamine impurity were found in an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API).

NDMA is classified as a probable human carcinogen (a substance that could cause cancer).

The company has not received any reports of adverse events to date related to this recall.

Valsartan is used to control high blood pressure and for the treatment of heart failure. In combination with amlodipine plus hydrochlorothiazide, it is used to control high blood pressure.

The following products, packaged in bottles and distributed nationwide, are being recalled:

The products can be identified by checking the product name, manufacturer details and batch or lot number on the bottle.

What to do

The company is arranging for return of all recalled products to Qualanex LLC, with instructions for returning recalled products given in a recall letter being sent out.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall or reporting an adverse event may contact Torrent at (800) 912-9561 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, or by email at Medinfo.Torrent@apcerls.com.

For general questions regarding the return of the recalled products, contact Qualanex at (800) 505-9291 from 8 am -5:30 pm (ET).

Camber Pharmaceuticals is recalling Valsartan tablets, USP, in 40-mg, 80-mg, 160-mg and 320-mg doses.

Trace Amounts of N-Nitrosodimethylamine impurity were found in an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API).

NDMA is classified as a probable human carcinogen (a substance that could cause cancer).

The company has not received any reports of adverse events to date related to this recall.

Valsartan, which was distributed nationwide by Qualanex LLC, is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure, and is packaged in 30-ct & 90-ct bottles

The following lot numbers and expiration dates are being recalled:.