The blood pressure medication known as Diovan and generically known as Valsartan is being recalled by the FDA, beginning with the valsartan made in factories in China and India. This drug is associated with cancers such as, liver, kidney, lungs, abdomen, and digestive cancers. This recall is due to the amounts of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) found within the medication.
The ingredient NDMA can be found in these drugs, because of this ingredient it has been found to cause liver, stomach, and lung cancers in animals. Many law firms, including ours, ar aggressively litigating these. Due to the presence of NDMA in these drugs it is researched to be a B2 carcinogen in humans because of the tumors that were found in rodents. While no human tests have been made, there have been cases shown that have caused these cancers in humans. Manufacturers are also recalling medications in combination with Valsartan. For example, valsartan and amlodipine or valsartan, amlodipine, and hydrochlorothiazide.
Valsartan made from 2014 and after have been linked to NDMA. Following this FDA required recall, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, and many others have also voluntarily recalling batches of lostrine for the same reason. NDMA is a byproduct that is dangerous to humans that are usually found in, fish processing, and rubber tire manufacturing.
Studies have shown that this contamination has been occurring since 2012, ever since one of the factories in China have changed the way that the drug has been made. In this change all Diovan and diovan incorporated medications have been recalled. Its generic brand name Valsartan has also been recalled due to the fact they are “equivalent” to one another. People who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure are required to take an antihypertensive drug once a day. A warning for this recall states “Do not stop using the drug until you have spoken to your doctor or pharmacy”. Written by: Isabella Novello
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