# Valsartan recall **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 22, 2018, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valsartan-recall/818367 "2018-07-22T04:26:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valsartan-recall/818367/1 "2018-07-22T04:26:35Z")
My medication insurance coverer and pharmacy informed me today that various versions of Valsartan (a medicine for blood pressure among other things) are being recalled due to an imperfection in one of its ingredients. They warned that they may not have any new supplies for some time to come, and that I should talk to my doctor about trying an alternative drug. My current supply is safe to use, according to the FDA, but I won’t be able to renew the prescription. This is a bit of an extreme example of the phenomenon where whenever I find something I like, they stop producing it. I finally found a blood pressure medicine that doesn’t have side effects (the last one swelled up my ankles) and it goes belly up. So here is my PSA for any of you who take Valsartan and haven’t had your notice yet. Best of luck to all of us. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valsartan-recall/818367/2 "2018-07-22T05:09:02Z")
I just refilled today (sat) how do I know if mine is safe? ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valsartan-recall/818367/3 "2018-07-22T05:13:49Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I just refilled today (sat) how do I know if mine is safe? [https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm613532.htm](https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm613532.htm) ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valsartan-recall/818367/4 "2018-07-22T05:17:58Z")
Check with your pharmacist. About 75% of the US supply is contaminated (with NDMA, a potential carcinogen). Your pharmacy will know if you received valsartan from the affected plant in China and your doctor will be able to change to an alternative medication. I endorse this rant because I’ve been spending all week dealing with this and with patients panicked that they are going to get cancer. FWIW, this recall is a worldwide issue and there have been no reported cases of any adverse reactions from this. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valsartan-recall/818367/5 "2018-07-22T05:27:19Z")
> [@mistymage](#): > > [FDA announces voluntary recall of several medicines containing valsartan following detection of an impurity | FDA](https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm613532.htm) Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valsartan-recall/818367/6 "2018-07-22T17:39:59Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > Check with your pharmacist. About 75% of the US supply is contaminated (with NDMA, a potential carcinogen). Your pharmacy will know if you received valsartan from the affected plant in China and your doctor will be able to change to an alternative medication. I endorse this rant because I’ve been spending all week dealing with this and with patients panicked that they are going to get cancer. FWIW, this recall is a worldwide issue and there have been no reported cases of any adverse reactions from this. Oh, well, if it’s made in China we won’t be able to afford it pretty soon anyway, as Fearless Leader is about to impose crushing tariffs on everything Chinese. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valsartan-recall/818367/7 "2018-07-22T18:33:44Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I just refilled today (sat) how do I know if mine is safe? See who the manufacturer is and check with either your pharmacist or insurance company. I think it’s only certain manufacturers. I take it and never got any notification, but my husband and I are between insurance coverage right now, long story. Anyway, I didn’t copy it but several days ago I saw the manufacturer’s list somewhere and mine wasn’t on it. Sorry I’m not more help. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valsartan-recall/818367/8 "2018-07-22T19:29:35Z")
I have looked allover my paperwork and stuff from the pharmacist. I don’t see a manufacturer. I will call in tomarrow. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valsartan-recall/818367/9 "2018-07-22T23:12:08Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I have looked allover my paperwork and stuff from the pharmacist. I don’t see a manufacturer. I will call in tomarrow. For mine it was on the bottle label, underneath the drug name. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valsartan-recall/818367/10 "2018-07-23T00:51:12Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > this recall is a worldwide issue and there have been no reported cases of any adverse reactions from this. This is the main part to remember. I’m switching my valsartan patients over to losartan as I’m able. I’m also waiting to get switched myself to losartan. But honestly I’m not at all worried about taking the valsartan I have. Risk is very low, benefit from the rx for me is very high. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valsartan-recall/818367/11 "2018-07-23T01:18:00Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > This is the main part to remember. > > I’m switching my valsartan patients over to losartan as I’m able. I’m also waiting to get switched myself to losartan. But honestly I’m not at all worried about taking the valsartan I have. Risk is very low, benefit from the rx for me is very high. I’ve been on losartan for several years. Which has inspired this parody fragment: All – my — friends — are taking losartan. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valsartan-recall/818367/12 "2018-07-23T03:25:01Z")
Losartan is the one that made my ankles swell, I hope I don’t have to go back to it. My pharmacist told me that there is another one in that family, Irbesartan. I’ll be calling my PCP tomorrow to see what he suggests. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valsartan-recall/818367/13 "2018-07-23T09:48:12Z")
I found my manufacturer on the label of my pill bottle. Yes, I’m on the list of recalls. > [@](#): > > The following are products listed in the recall, according to the FDA: > > ``` > Valsartan from Major Pharmaceuticals > Valsartan from Solco Healthcare > Valsartan from Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. > Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) from Solco Healthcare > Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) from Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. > > ``` [link](http://www.fox2detroit.com/health/fda-issues-recall-for-blood-pressure-medication-due-to-cancer-risk) mmm