Tainted high blood pressure, heart failure medications recalled
Published:Friday | July 27, 2018 | 12:46 PM
The Ministry of Health is alerting Jamaicans to the recall of drugs containing the active pharmaceutical ingredient valsartan, which is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure.
In a media release, the ministry says the recall occurred in the wake of an “impurity” detected in the valsartan active substance manufactured by the China-based Zheijing Huahai Pharmaceutical Company Limited.
It says its Standards & Regulation Division has indicated that of the 18 valsartan-containing products registered for use in Jamaica, only the products marketed from Denk Pharma GmbH & Co KG were found to obtain their active pharmaceutical ingredient from the China-based company.
The health ministry says the company initiated a voluntary recall of stocks containing valsartan from the trade to the retail level, in a letter received from their local distributor, Massy Distribution on July 9, 2018.
The products are:
Valsar-Denk - 40mg; 80mg; 160 mg; and 320 mg.
Covalsar-Denk - 80/12.5 mg; 160/12.5 mg; and 320/12.5 mg.
Amva-Denk - 10/160; 5/80; and 5/160.
Amva+HCT-Denk - 5/150/12.5; 10/160/12.5; and 10/160/25.
Patients are advised to consult their doctors before discontinuing the use of the drugs.
The ministry says it will keep the public informed of developments as they occur.
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