A pharmaceutical company has issued a voluntary recall for more half-a-million bottles of blood pressure medication after tests showed the capsules had high levels of potentially cancer-causing chemicals.<\/p>\n
An enforcement report from the Food and Drug Administration said New Jersey-based Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. recalled 580,844 bottles of Prazosin Hydrochloride capsules that were distributed nationwide. <\/p>\n
According to the report, the recall was initiated because tests for the capsules, which came in doses of 1, 2 and 5 mg, showed they had “above acceptable intake limits” for N-nitroso Prazosin impurity C<\/a>, a cancer-linked chemical compound.<\/p>\n The recall was initiated Oct. 7, the report said. Oct. 24, the recall was classified as a “Class II,” which means the product “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences,” or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.<\/p>\n According to the Health Hazard Assessment by Teva USA, the overall harm in the patient population is considered to be medium, the California Board of Pharmacy said in a memo.<\/a> <\/p>\n Only certain lots of the pills were recalled. A full list of impacted lot codes can be found here<\/a>. <\/p>\n The drug, more commonly referred to as Prazosin is a type of alpha-blocker used to treat hypertension, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The drug is sometimes sold under the name of Minipress, the clinic said.<\/p>\n Teva Pharmaceuticals did not immediately respond to NBC Chicago’s request for comment. <\/p>\n