Valsartan is a commonly-prescribed high blood pressure medication. It is sometimes combined with other drugs like Amlodipine, which also treats high blood pressure. Drugmaker Teva Pharmaceuticals has recalled its Valsartan combination tablets, which were made by Mylan Pharmaceuticals of India, due to a cancer risk from a contaminant called N-nitrosodiethylamine, (NDEA) found in the products. Teva has now recalled all of its Valsartan drugs on the US market. In this article, our personal injury and class action lawyers will address:
- 1. What are Amlodipine and Valsartan?
- 2. Is Amlodipine under recall only if combined with Valsartan?
1. What are Amlodipine and Valsartan?
Amlodipine is a drug used alone or with other drugs to treat high blood pressure. It works as a “calcium channel blocker,” which means it relaxes blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. It is also used to treat angina, which is chest pain that happens when there isn’t enough blood flowing to the heart. Amlodipine is the generic of the drug Norvasc.
Valsartan is also a high blood pressure drug. It is an “angiotensin II receptor blocker,” or ARB, meaning it keeps blood vessels from narrowing, to lower blood pressure and keep blood flowing. Valsartan is the generic of Diovan.
Sometimes doctors prescribe Amlodipine together with Valsartan, because the combination of these two drugs may work to lower blood pressure when other treatments haven’t. Drug company Teva markets combination pills that contain both Valsartan and Amlodipine. Mylan India manufactures these combination pills for Teva. Authorities found a carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) called NDEA in the combination pills, and these pills are now on the FDA’s recall list along with other Valsartan drugs. Click here for a list of all recalled Valsartan.
2. Is Amlodipine under recall only if combined with Valsartan?
Standalone Amlodipine, which is not combined with Valsartan, is not currently on recall. Some Valsartan and combination tablets by other manufacturers are also not currently being recalled. Here is the list of Valsartan and combination products not on recall.
Contact us for help…
If you or a loved one has taken contaminated Amlodipine / Valsartan pills, please contact our Valsartan lawsuit attorneys at Shouse Law. Please also see our articles on Valsartan with NDMA, Valsartan and the link to cancer and Valsartan and the link to liver damage.