On July 13, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a voluntary recall of valsartan, a generic drug used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure because it may contain a probable human carcinogen. The carcinogen, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), may have entered the product during manufacture in China and India.
If you or a loved one has taken this drug and has suffered from effects caused by the carcinogen, including cancer, tumors, or liver fibrosis/scarring, you should get in touch with the valsartan recall lawyers at Golden Law Office today. We may be able to help you recover.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, NDMA is no longer produced in the United States, except for research purposes. It was formerly used in the production of rocket fuel, lubricants, and softeners for copolymers. NDMA is classified as a “potent carcinogen” and is not fit for human consumption.
The United States valsartan recall was issued after 22 other countries issued recalls involving 2,300 valsartan batches sent to Germany, Finland, Norway, Hungary, Sweden, Austria, the Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Belgium, France, Portugal, Poland, Lithuania, Croatia, Canada, Greece, Bosnia, Malta, Herzegovina, and Bahrain.
If it’s found that the drug indeed contained NDMA when manufactured, individuals who have suffered from the effects of the carcinogen may be eligible to receive compensation that can be used for the following:
- Past and future medical expenses relating to necessary treatment
- Loss of wages
- Past and future pain and suffering relating to both physical and mental implications
- Other economic losses experienced as a result of the injury
- Potential punitive damages
To learn more about filing a potential lawsuit, keep reading or get in touch with our experienced and qualified attorneys as soon as possible.
Why is Valsartan Dangerous?
Valsartan is an angiotensin-II-receptor antagonist used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and recent heart attacks. The prescription medication is usually available in tablets.
Certain batches of valsartan produced by the Chinese company Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals and the Indian company Hetero Labs Limited have been suspected to contain the carcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine. N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is not fit for human consumption and can cause multiple serious short-term and long-term side effects.
Long-term exposure to NDMA can cause the following:
- Liver damage, including scarring and liver fibrosis
- Liver cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Lung cancer
- Tumors
Short-term exposure to NDMA can cause the following side effects:
- Headaches
- Fever
- Nausea
- Jaundice
- Vomiting
- Abdominal cramps
- Dizziness
- Enlarged and/or reduced functioning of internal organs including kidneys, liver and lungs
If you notice any of the above symptoms or side effects and are currently taking valsartan, you should speak to your doctor immediately. Do not stop taking the drug, however, since stopping valsartan can be dangerous.
How Do I Know if My Valsartan Prescription Was Recalled?
Currently, the following seventeen companies have issued recall notices for drugs containing valsartan that may have been contaminated with NDMA:
- Teva Pharmaceuticals/Major Pharmaceuticals
- Prinston Pharmaceuticals/Solco Healthcare
- Teva Pharmaceuticals/Actavis
- AvKARE
- RemedyRepack Inc.
- A-S Medication Solutions LLC
- Bryant Ranch Prepack Inc.
- H J Harkins Company Inc. dba Pharma Pac
- Proficient Rx LP
- Northwind Pharmaceuticals
- Camber Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- NuCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- Remedy Repack, Inc (Hetero/Camber)
- AvKare (hetero/Camber)
- Preferred Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited
- Remedy Repack, Inc. (Torrent)
The following products from these companies have been recalled:
- Valsartan
- Valsartan HCTZ
- Amlodipine/Valsartan/HCTZ
- Amlodipine/Valsartan
The recall affects concentrations of valsartan ranging from 40 mg to 320 mg.
If you have a prescription for valsartan in any of these concentrations or combinations, you can check whether your prescription is subject to the recall by comparing the NDC number, lot number, and expiration number of your prescription to the FDA database for Products under the Valsartan Recall, found here (last updated August 22, 2018).
Important Information:
The FDA recommends that “patients taking valsartan from a recalled batch should continue taking their current medicine until their doctor or pharmacist provides a replacement or different treatment option“.
Patients should not stop taking the recalled products without first contacting their treating physician.
Getting in Touch With a Valsartan Recall Lawyer
If you or a loved one has taken valsartan and been diagnosed with cancer, liver scarring, or tumors, you may have a claim for damages. If you feel that you have been harmed by these dangerous drugs, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Golden Law Office today by either calling our office or filling out our Valsartan Questionnaire. You can find the questionnaire below.
While dangerous drug claims can be complex, our experienced valsartan recall attorneys will be able to assist you every step of the way.
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Golden Law is a local, Kentucky Law Firm, attorneys/lawyers in Fayette County, Kentucky, working in the fields of personal injury, auto accidents, car and truck wrecks; medical malpractice: doctors, hospitals & nursing homes; senior living abuse: neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse, dehydration, bedsores, catastrophic injuries, and broken bones. If you are considering a lawsuit, call us at 859.469.5000 for a free consultation. We are located at 771 Corporate Dr. Suite 800/ Lexington, Kentucky 40503. We handle cases all over the Commonwealth of Kentucky. We have represented and trained people in major insurance companies & major trucking companies. We have first hand experience and know the ‘inside of the insurance business’ … that’s a distinction that no other law firm can make. We’re Your Advocate. Dale Golden, Laraclay Parker.
