(CMR) Pfizer has issued a recall for a high blood pressure medication distributed under three names. The company said Accuretic and its two generic versions distributed by Greenstone, quinapril and hydrochlorothiazide tablets and quinapril HCl/hydrochlorothiazide tablets, are subject to recall.
The medications treat hypertension, which increases the risk for potentially dangerous cardiovascular events like strokes.
The tablets contain higher levels of nitrosamines, which pose a cancer risk. However, Pfizer said “there is no immediate risk to patients taking this medication.”
“Nitrosamines are common in water and foods, including cured and grilled meats, dairy products, and vegetables. Everyone is exposed to some level of nitrosamines. These impurities may increase the risk of cancer if people are exposed to them above acceptable levels over long periods of time,” Pfizer said in the news release.
Nitrosamines may be unintentionally introduced when specific chemical reactions are used in the production of medications.
Pfizer recommended that patients taking the medication consult with their doctor about alternative treatment options.
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