Are Blood Pressure Medications Linked To Cancer
In late 2018, a few drug manufacturers reported that some batches of their blood pressure medications tested positive for contamination by a cancer-linked chemical called N-Nitrosodimethylamine and other related impurities. Consuming high doses of NDMA could potentially cause a person to develop cancer, but the amount of the chemical in the recalled blood pressure medications does not present an urgent threat to your health.
Out of an abundance of caution, the FDA initiated a recall of these specific medication batches. The recalls include a particular class of blood pressure medications called angiotensin II receptor blockers . These medicines work by reducing blood vessel constriction caused by the hormone angiotensin. Sometimes, ARBs are combined with other medications, such as diuretics, in a combination blood pressure pill.
The blood pressure medication recall includes these drugs, produced by a small group of manufacturers:
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Irbesartan
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Valsartan
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Combination pills that also contain drugs like HCTZ
Not every brand of ARBs has been recalled. Many drug manufacturers produce these common medications and have not reported problems with impurities. You can find out if your particular brand of ARB has been recalled by searching the list of recalled ARBs on the FDAs website. You can also take the medicine bottle to your pharmacy and ask the pharmacist for help.
Common Blood Pressure Drug Tied To Increased Risk Of Skin Cancer
By Lisa Rapaport, Reuters Health
5 Min Read
– People who take a certain water pill prescribed to control fluid retention and treat high blood pressure may be more likely to get skin cancer than other individuals, a Danish study suggests.
While the drug, hydrochlorothiazide, has long been linked to an increased risk of sunburns, the current study offers fresh evidence that this commonly prescribed medication may also make people more likely to develop two types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
For the study, researchers examined national prescription registry data on hydrochlorothiazide use from 1995 to 2012 as well as cancer registry records on skin malignancies diagnosed from 2004 to 2012.
Overall, people who took hydrochlorothiazide daily for at least six years were 29 percent more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma and almost four times more likely to get squamous cell carcinoma than individuals who didnt take this medication, the study found.
We already knew that hydrochlorothiazide makes the skin more vulnerable to damage from UV light of sun or sunbeds, said senior study author Anton Pottegard of the University of Southern Denmark.
However, we did not know that hydrochlorothiazide use also appears to translate into an increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, Pottegard said by email.
Ten percent of squamous cell carcinoma cases were high users, as were 2.8 percent of people in the control group.
More Good News During The Pandemic
The findings are another welcome piece of information for patients living with high blood pressure during the coronavirus pandemic. Another recent study reveals taking two of these drugs may help prevent severe COVID-19 complications.
British researchers say both ACEi and ARBs significantly lower the risk of life-threatening infections and death from the virus. Both reports encourage patients to continue using their blood pressure drugs. Coplands study adds there is no evidence that long-term use of these medications increases the chances for developing cancer.
The findings are being presented at the ESC Congress 2020 event.
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Monitoring Your Blood Pressure
Even before starting treatment, it is important to know your blood pressure and make sure it is at the current recommended goal, below 130/80. This goal can be reached by diet and exercise and/or the use of medications. Once you start an anti-cancer medication, keep a log of your blood pressures. If you start to notice a pattern of the blood pressures increasing, especially to anything higher than 140/90, it may be necessary to visit a cardio-oncologist to initiate some new blood pressure medications.
Whats Behind The Problem
The culprits behind the latest recalls are N-nitrosodiethylamine and N-nitrosodimethylamine , substances that occur naturally in certain foods, drinking water, air pollution, and industrial processes. The chemicals have been classified as probable human carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer .
These are organic compounds that can be found in food products such as bacon and other cured meats, fish, cheese, and malt beverages, including beer, according to a policy summary report by the Technology Centre Mongstad in Kaland, Norway.
In the worst-case scenario, the FDA estimates that if 8,000 people took the highest dose of valsartan containing NDMA daily for four years, it might cause one additional case of cancer over the lifetimes of those 8,000 people. The agency underscores that, in reality, the risk is probably much less because patients are likely to receive a much smaller dose of the impurity.
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Why Are The Drugs Being Recalled
In each case, a recalled drug was contaminated with N-nitrosodimethylamine , N-nitrosodiethylamine or N-Nitroso N-Methyl 4-amino butyric acid .
Thosechemicals are believed to cause cancer in humans. Research also suggests NDEA can cause liver and blood cell damage.
NDEA is used to make rocket fuel and can also be found in some food and drinking water, but at low levels. It can also be created through certain chemical reactions and as a byproduct of industrial processes.
What Should People Who Rely On These Medicines Do
Experts say anyone taking a recalled drug should continue to do so, but contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately. The threat from the contamination may be less than the threat of not taking the drug.
Your doctor or pharmacist can help you find an alternative. But at least one expert says the recalls are making it more difficult to find valsartan drugs that have not been recalled. And, they say, some blood pressure drugs not on the recall list have seen price increases as demand spikes.
Craig Beavers, PharmD, cardiovascular clinical pharmacy coordinator, University of Kentucky Medical Center.
FDA spokesman Jeremy Kahn.
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Health Chiefs Recall Dozens Of Batches Of Common Blood Pressure Pills Because They Contain ‘world’s Most Explosive Chemical’ Which Also Causes Cancer
Health chiefs today recalled dozens of batches of blood pressure pills because they were found to contain an explosive chemical.
Pharmacies stocking the affected drugs several different types of irbesartan and losartan were told to pull them after the cancer-causing impurity was detected.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, which polices the safety of drugs used in Britain, said the affected batches contained azido-tetrazole.
Government officials warned the substance considered by some to be the world’s most explosive chemical may increase the risk of cancer.
Irbesartan
But the MHRA insisted the measure was merely a precaution and there was no proof it has caused any harm to patients.
It urged Brits told not to stop taking the drugs without consulting their GP because suddenly stopping can be risky.
Some of the contaminated pills have been on the market for nearly two years, it was also revealed.
It is the latest in a line of drug recalls of sartan-type medicines, which may have been exposed to cancer-causing chemicals in factories in China and India.
Losartan
Irbesartan and losartan are prescribed to millions of Britons with high blood pressure every year.
There is also no evidence any of the pills have exploded.The MHRA said the move only applied to pharmacies and wholesalers stocking the 31 batches supplied by Bristol Laboratories Limited, Brown & Burk UK Limited and Teva UK Limited, some of which were first distributed in September 2019.
You Shouldnt Stop Taking The Medication Until You Speak To Your Doctor First
To date, none of the manufacturers have received any reports of people who use these medications becoming ill. If youre taking a blood pressure medication that was recently recalled, do not stop taking it.
The FDA says that the risk of harm to someones health may be higher if one of these medications is stopped immediately without any alternative treatment.
So, if youre taking one of these medications, reach out to your pharmacist or physician to discuss alternative treatments.
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Blood Pressure Drug Triggers Skin Cancer
A common hypertension medicine dramatically increases your risk of getting skin cancer, a new study finds.1
Danish researchers looked at 80,000 cases of skin cancer. Then they analyzed medications the patients were taking. They found that one drug made people seven times more likely to get skin cancer.
It was the blood pressure medication hydrochlorothiazide .
HCT is a diuretic. It reduces fluid in the body, which causes blood pressure to drop. It is one of Americas most popular drugs. More than 50 million prescriptions are written for it in the U.S. every year.2
Dr. Anton Pottegård is associate professor at the University of South Denmark. He is one of the study authors. We knew that hydrochlorothiazide made the skin more vulnerable to damage from the suns UV rays, he said. But what is new and also surprising is that long-term use of this blood pressure medicine leads to such a significant increase in the risk of skin cancer.3
Other blood pressure medications had no effect on cancer risk, researchers found.
HCT triggers a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. Its the second most common skin cancer after basal cell carcinoma.4
Dr. Armand Cognetta Jr. is Chief of the Division of Dermatology at Florida State University College of Medicine. The Danish researchers partnered with Dr. Cognetta for the study.
The research was recently published in the Journal of the American Association of Dermatology.
Medications Linked To Erection Problems
Erectile dysfunction , formerly known as impotence, is a condition that affects 52% of men between the ages of 40 and 70. It is strongly associated with aging and risk factors such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, and hypogonadism .
Among the factors people sometimes overlook are the many drugs and medications that can directly or indirectly affect a person’s ability to achieve or sustain an erection.
This article explores the long list of prescription, over-the-counter , recreational, and other drugs that can cause or contribute to erectile dysfunction.
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Check Your Bp Medication Label Now
Common brand names for hydrochlorothiazide include HydroDIURIL, Microzide, Dyazide, and Maxzide. It is often part of a combination pill in which it is added to other blood pressure drugs. In these cases, it is labeled as HCTZ or HCT.9
If you are prone to skin cancer or live in a sunny climate, ask your doctor to switch you to another medication. There are dozens of other blood pressure drugs on the market. It is likely that another one will work just as well for you as HCTbut without giving you skin cancer.10
Better yet, take steps to lower your blood pressure naturally. That way youll completely avoid drug side effects.
Just about everybody who takes hypertension meds reports at least one side effect. Common ones include constipation, headaches, erectile dysfunction, and drowsiness. Some studies have linked them to dementia and cancer.11
Several Reasons People Get High Blood Pressure And Why Its Normal For It To Fluctuate
Its important to understand that your blood pressure measurement will vary throughout the day its normal. High blood pressure can develop for several reasons, including having a family history, obesity, smoking, high-salt diets, diabetes, lack of exercise and underlying kidney disease. Often, it can be controlled with a combination of lifestyle modifications and a variety of medications.
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Looking At Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension, is a condition that can damage the arteries, heart and other organs. It is actually quite common for cancer patients to have high blood pressure, not just due to stress and physical changes, but also because some cancer treatments, including certain types of chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy, can have side effects on the cardiovascular system.
Even without the presence of cancer, high blood pressure can lead to:
- Heart attack
- kidney damage
- Peripheral arterial disease
Further, if it is left untreated, high blood pressure can also interrupt cancer treatment, since the proper circulation of chemicals through the blood in chemotherapy is necessary for success. Cancer patients can take measures to help control blood pressure by seeking care from their oncologists, or by working with specialists such as internists and cardiologists to provide thorough and comprehensive treatment. In this manner, the different but interrelated physical issues can also be addressed in a manner where there is less chance of danger to the patient.
This makes it very important for patients to communicate with all of their care providers regarding this issue. Solutions to the situation can include the use of multiple approaches in developing a comprehensive treatment plan, since alternatives to some of the medications that cause the greatest harm can still be compatible for targeted cancer treatments.
Blood Pressure Medication Recalled After Potential Cancer
Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. is recalling these specific types of blood pressure medications for possibly containing high levels of a cancer-causing substance.
A recall notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says two types of blood pressure medications are being recalled after tests revealed potentially high levels of a cancer-causing chemical.
The manufacturer, Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc., is voluntarily recalling its Irbesartan and Hydrochlorothiazide blood pressure tablets at the consumer level, according to reports by SILive.com and Health.com.
As part of Lupins ongoing assessment, analysis revealed that certain tested API batches were above the specification limit for the impurity, N-nitrosoirbesartan, the FDA says in its recall notice.
Although Lupin has received no reports of illness that appear to relate to this issue, the company, out of an abundance of caution, is recalling all batches of Irbesartan Tablets USP 75mg, 150mg and 300mg and Irbesartan and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets USP, 150mg/12.5mg and 300mg/12.5mg in the U.S., the FDA says.
Lupin discontinued the marketing of Irbesartan and Irbesartan and HCTZ tablets in January 2021, the FDA noted.
The FDA says Irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide tablets are packaged in 30- and 90-count bottles and were distributed nationwide in the U.S. to wholesalers, drug chains, mail order pharmacies and supermarkets.
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Blood Pressure Medication Recalled For Possibly Containing Cancer
Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. is recalling blood pressure medication for possibly containing high levels of a human carcinogen.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A blood pressure medication is being recalled for possibly containing high levels of a cancer-causing impurity, according to a recall notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .
Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. is voluntarily recalling its Irbesartan and Hydrochlorothiazide tablets at the consumer level.
An analysis revealed that certain tested API batches were above the specification limit for the impurity, N-nitrosoirbesartan a probable human carcinogen based on results from laboratory tests. Out of an abundance of caution, Lupin is recalling all batches of Irbesartan Tablets USP 75mg, 150mg and 300mg and Irbesartan and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets USP, 150mg/12.5mg and 300mg/12.5mg in the United States.
Irbesartan Tablets USP, 75mg, 150mg, and 300mg, are packaged in 30- and 90-count bottles and were distributed nationwide in the United States to wholesalers, drug chains, mail-order pharmacies and supermarkets.
Irbesartan and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets USP, 150mg/12.5mg, and 300mg/12.5mg, are packaged in 30- and 90-count bottles and were distributed nationwide in the United States to wholesalers, drug chains, mail order pharmacie, and supermarkets.
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Fda Has Recalled Multiple Blood Pressure Medications
Over the past year, the FDA has recalled multiple blood pressure medications from several manufacturers after discovering potential carcinogens in some batches. Its believed they became contaminated during the manufacturing process.
The recalled medications include specific lots of losartan, irbesartan, valsartan and combination drugs with valsartan. The investigation is ongoing and the FDA continues to update the list of medications being recalled here.
Some of the recalled lots contain a combination of medications. Although neither amlodipine nor hydrochlorothiazide are currently under recall on their own, they are when combined with some other medications. For example, a combination of valsartan, amlodipine and hydrochlorothiazide is one product that has been recalled. The FDA website provides lists of valsartan products under recall, valsartan products not under recall, irbesartan products under recall and losartan medications under recall for patients, health care providers and pharmacists to accurately confirm which products are affected.
Those voluntary recalls came after the discovery of the chemicals NDMA and NDEA — both probable human carcinogens — at levels far above what the FDA considers an acceptable daily intake. NDEA is a naturally occurring chemical in some foods and it can be found in drinking water, but its also present in air pollution and industrial processes. NDMA is a chemical that forms in both industrial and natural processes.
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Blood Pressure Meds Recalled For Possibly Containing A Cancer
Two types of blood pressure medication made by the company Lupin Pharmaceuticals are being recalled because they may contain high levels of a substance that could cause cancer.
The Food and Drug Administration said late last week that Lupin is voluntarily recalling certain dosages of irbesartan tablets and irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide tablets. Both are used to treat hypertension, or high blood pressure, and were distributed in 30- and 90-count bottles nationwide.
The company found that certain batches of those drugs were above the specification limit for the impurity N-nitrosoirbesartan, which could cause cancer in humans. It says its received no reports of illness that appear to be related to this issue, but is acting out of an abundance of caution. Its recalling:
- All batches of irbesartan tablets USP 75mg, 150mg and 300mg
- All batches of irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide tablets USP, 150mg/12.5mg and 300mg/12.5mg
Lupin says it received four reports of illness from irbesartan and none from irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide between October 2018 and the end of September 2021.It discontinued the marketing of both drugs in January of this year.