CLOSE Teva Pharmaceuticals has launched a voluntary recall into two drugs used to treat high blood pressure as more medications face concerns over a possible cancer risk. USA TODAY 
 
 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a voluntary nationwide recall of drugs made by Teva Pharmaceuticals. Some of the blood pressure medications might contain a possible human carcinogen. (Photo: Alison Young, USA TODAY) 
 
 Teva Pharmaceuticals has launched a voluntary recall into two drugs used to treat high blood pressure as yet more medications face concerns over a possible cancer risk. 
 
 In a statement from Teva posted by the Food and Drug Administration, the recall affects all lots of combination tablets featuring the drugs amlodipine and valsartan and another combo drug featuring amlodipine, valsartan, and hydrochlorothiazide. 
 
 The drugs could contain an impurity called N-nitroso-diethylamine (NDEA), which has been classified as a possible human carcinogen, the FDA said. 
 
 Patients taking either drugs should contact their doctor or pharmacist for advice or alternative treatments. Stopping the drugs immediately with no comparable alternative could pose a greater risk to patients' health, said Teva. 
 
 More: Doctors: Blood pressure drug substitutes are available for patients affected by recalls 
 
 More: FDA chief: Blood pressure medicine recalls reflect increased scrutiny on drug safety 
 
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 Customers and patients with questions can contact Teva by phone at 888-838-2872, or email at druginfo@tevapharm.com. 
 
 In August, the FDA announced an expanded recall of valsartan because products may contain the impurity. Last month, two more recalls were announced: one for the drug irbesartan and a second recall for losartan potassium hydrochlorothiazide tablets. 
 
 During an interview in November with USA TODAY, FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the blood pressure drug recalls reflect an increased focus on drug quality to ensure no impurities are present. 
 
 Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23. 
 
 Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2018/11/30/blood-pressure-drugs-two-more-medications-recalled-cancer-risk/2159850002/ ||||| Teva Pharmaceuticals has initiated a voluntary recall in the United States, to the patient level, of all lots of Amlodipine / Valsartan combination tablets and Amlodipine / Valsartan / Hydrochlorothiazide combination tablets (see table below) due to an impurity detected above specification limits in an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufactured by Mylan India. The impurity found in Mylan’s valsartan API is known as N-nitroso-diethylamine (NDEA), which has been classified as a probable human carcinogen. This chemical is typically found in very small amounts in certain foods, drinking water, air pollution, and certain industrial processes. 
 
 Amlodipine/Valsartan combination tablets and Amlodipine/Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide combination tablets are used for the treatment of high blood pressure. To date, Teva has not received any reports of adverse events signaling a potential link or exposure to valsartan. 
 
 Patients taking Amlodipine / Valsartan combination tablets or Amlodipine / Valsartan / Hydrochlorothiazide combination tablets are advised to continue taking their medication and to contact their pharmacist or physician for advice on alternative treatment. The risk of harm to a patient’s health may be higher if the treatment is stopped immediately without any comparable alternative treatment. 
 
 Teva Pharmaceuticals USA is notifying its distributors and customers by certified mail and is arranging for return/reimbursement of returned recalled products. Distributors and retailers that have product that is being recalled should immediately stop distribution and quarantine any quantities remaining in their control and return the recalled product. 
 
 Customers and patients with medical-related questions, information about an Adverse Event or other questions about the Teva products being recalled should contact Teva’s Medical Information by phone at: 888-838-2872, option 3, then, option 4. Live calls are received Monday-Friday, 9:00AM-5:00PM Eastern Time with Voicemail available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week or email druginfo@tevapharm.com. 
 
 Adverse reactions or other problems experienced with the use of the products may also be reported to Teva directly at 888-838-2872 or to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax. 
 
 Complete and submit the report Online : www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm 
 
 : www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm Regular Mail or Fax: Download form www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm or call 1- 800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178 
 
 Patient safety and product quality is critical to Teva. As always, Teva will continue to partner with, and regularly update, all relevant stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, to resolve 
 
 this situation. This issue is not limited to valsartan medicines manufactured and distributed by Teva. Some valsartan-containing products manufactured and distributed by other pharmaceutical companies using the same API supplier may also be affected. 
 
 Lots Under Voluntary Recall 
 
 The products that are part of this voluntary recall and listed below are packed in bottles. These lots were distributed nationwide to Teva’s Direct Accounts (Wholesale/Distributor/Retail/Repackagers/VA Pharmacy, et. al). 
 
 Lot # Exp. Date Product Description / Strength Bottle Size NDC 23X017 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 5 mg/160 mg 90 Count 0093-7690-98 23X018 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 5 mg/160 mg 30 Count 0093-7690-56 23X018 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 5 mg/160 mg 90 Count 0093-7690-98 23X019 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 5 mg/160 mg 30 Count 0093-7690-56 23X019 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 5 mg/160 mg 90 Count 0093-7690-98 23X020 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 5 mg/160 mg 30 Count 0093-7690-56 23X022 4/2019 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 5 mg/160 mg 30 Count 0093-7690-56 23X023 4/2019 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 5 mg/160 mg 30 Count 0093-7690-56 23X023 4/2019 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 5 mg/160 mg 90 Count 0093-7690-98 23X024 4/2019 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 5 mg/160 mg 90 Count 0093-7690-98 24X012 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 10 mg/160 mg 30 Count 0093-7691-56 24X012 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 10 mg/160 mg 90 Count 0093-7691-98 24X013 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 10 mg/160 mg 30 Count 0093-7691-56 25X028 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 5 mg/320 mg 90 Count 0093-7692-98 25X029 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 5 mg/320 mg 30 Count 0093-7692-56 25X029 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 5 mg/320 mg 90 Count 0093-7692-98 25X030 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 5 mg/320 mg 30 Count 0093-7692-56 25X031 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 5 mg/320 mg 30 Count 0093-7692-56 25X032 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 5 mg/320 mg 30 Count 0093-7692-56 25X035 4/2019 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 5 mg/320 mg 30 Count 0093-7692-56 25X037 4/2019 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 5 mg/320 mg 30 Count 0093-7692-56 26X036 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 10 mg/320 mg 90 Count 0093-7693-98 26X038 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 10 mg/320 mg 90 Count 0093-7693-98 26X039 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 30 Count 0093-7693-56 
 
 Lot # Exp. Date Product Description / Strength Bottle Size NDC 10 mg/320 mg 26X039 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 10 mg/320 mg 90 Count 0093-7693-98 26X040 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 10 mg/320 mg 30 Count 0093-7693-56 26X041 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 10 mg/320 mg 30 Count 0093-7693-56 26X042 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 10 mg/320 mg 30 Count 0093-7693-56 26X043 11/2018 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 10 mg/320 mg 30 Count 0093-7693-56 26X044 4/2019 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 10 mg/320 mg 90 Count 0093-7693-98 26X045 4/2019 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 10 mg/320 mg 90 Count 0093-7693-98 26X046 4/2019 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 10 mg/320 mg 30 Count 0093-7693-56 26X047 4/2019 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 10 mg/320 mg 30 Count 0093-7693-56 26X048 4/2019 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 10 mg/320 mg 30 Count 0093-7693-56 26X049 4/2019 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 10 mg/320 mg 30 Count 0093-7693-56 26X050 4/2019 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 10 mg/320 mg 30 Count 0093-7693-56 26X051 4/2019 Amlodipine and Valsartan Tablets 10 mg/320 mg 30 Count 0093-7693-56 
 
 Lot # Exp. Date Product Description/ Strength Bottle Size NDC 18X010 2/2019 Amlodipine, Valsartan, and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets 5 mg/160 mg/12.5 mg 30 count 0093-7807-56 18X010 2/2019 Amlodipine, Valsartan, and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets 5 mg/160 mg/12.5 mg 90 count 0093-7807-98 18X011 2/2019 Amlodipine, Valsartan, and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets 5 mg/160 mg/12.5 mg 30 count 0093-7807-56 20X006 11/2018 Amlodipine, Valsartan, and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets 10 mg/160 mg/12.5 mg 30 count 0093-7810-56 20X006 11/2018 Amlodipine, Valsartan, and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets 10 mg/160 mg/12.5 mg 90 count 0093-7810-98 21X006 11/2018 Amlodipine, Valsartan, and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets 10 mg/160 mg/25 mg 30 count 0093-7038-56 21X006 11/2018 Amlodipine, Valsartan, and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets 10 mg/160 mg/25 mg 90 count 0093-7038-98 21X007 2/2019 Amlodipine, Valsartan, and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets 10 mg/160 mg/25 mg 30 count 0093-7038-56 22X045 2/2019 Amlodipine, Valsartan, and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets 10 mg/320 mg/25 mg 30 count 0093-7809-56 22X045 2/2019 Amlodipine, Valsartan, and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets 10 mg/320 mg/25 mg 90 count 0093-7809-98 22X046 02/2019 Amlodipine, Valsartan, and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets 10 mg/320 mg/25 mg 30 count 0093-7809-56 22X047 02/2019 Amlodipine, Valsartan, and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets 10 mg/320 mg/25 mg 30 count 0093-7809-56 
 
 ### ||||| Nov. 27, 2018 -- Two more valsartan blood pressure drugs have been recalled because of impurities in its key ingredient. 
 
 Teva Pharmaceuticals on Tuesday announced a nationwide recall of all amlodipine/valsartan combination tablets and all amlodipine/valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide tablets due to a problem with the valsartan active ingredient manufactured in Mylan, India. 
 
 An impurity known as N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) was found in Mylan’s valsartan. NDEA has been found to possibly cause cancer in humans. 
 
 The impacted drugs are used to treat high blood pressure. Teva says no reports of illnesses have been reported. 
 
 Patients taking these drugs are urged to continue and to contact their pharmacist or doctor for alternatives. 
 
 The FDA in July announced the recall of five other valsartan products for NDEA contamination as well as possible contamination from a similar impurity, NDMA. Several more recalls were announced in August, while an irbesartan-based blood pressure drug was recalled earlier this month, along with another made with losartan. 
 
 All of the recalled products have ingredients manufactured in either China or India. The sudden rush of recalls because of ingredients made overseas has put more scrutiny on these foreign labs and on the FDA’s ability to effectively monitor their products for safety.
– Taking blood-pressure medication? Teva Pharmaceuticals is voluntarily recalling two drugs as part of an ongoing effort to take medications off the market that might cause cancer, USA Today reports. In an FDA-released statement, Teva says it's recalling all combination tablets using valsartan and amlodipine as well as a drug combining hydrochlorothiazide, valsartan, and amlodipine. Patients using them are advised to seek medical assistance in transferring to another drug. The move follows earlier recalls this year for other valsartan products and blood-pressure drugs made with irbesartan and losartan, per WebMD. (The FDA has also recalled Kratom.)