Hypertension Medication Recalled

Hypertensive patients who are on prescribed high blood pressure medication, Losartan, manufactured particularly by the German market, are advised to discontinue taking the medication immediately.  The Ministry of Health and Wellness as well as Brodies Pharmacy – the only importer of the drug – issued advisories today notifying about the presence of an impurity in the medication. According to the Ministry, Denk Pharma GMBH & Co. KG of Germany wrote to them informing of a voluntary recall of Losar-Denk and CoLosar-Denk after the European health authorities detected the impurity called “4-Chlor-Azido-methyl tetrazole.”  This impurity, the Ministry informed, has been found in the active ingredient of at least three manufacturers. It said the presence of the impurity is above the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) limit, meaning it is present in larger amounts than is safe for human consumption, and also that there is no information on how this impurity can impact people. The Ministry of Health and Wellness urges people who are taking Losartan with the brands mentioned to immediately discontinue taking the medication and to take it to the nearest pharmacy.