Many of the medications manufactured and prescribed in this country expand the lives of millions of people across the country. It is the job of the Food and Drug Administration to make sure that those medications cause no unnecessary harm to patients. Unfortunately, people across the country, including many here in Ohio, continue to suffer harm, and sometimes, recalls do not get to everyone in time.
One of the most recent drugs requiring a recall is valsartan, which is used to prevent heart failure and control blood pressure. This drug is ordinarily only a component of other drugs on the market and may cause cancer. The FDA’s recall of the drug makes the United States the 23rd country to recall this medication due to that potential.
So far, the FDA has identified three companies using the drug that the agency believes fail to meet the appropriate safety standards when it comes to valsartan. The recall is due to the presence of an impurity called N-nitrosodimethylamine, which is a potent carcinogen. It can cause tumors in the respiratory tract, the liver or the kidneys. Damage to the liver could also occur. The FDA attributes a manufacturing issue to the problem.
Whether the Food and Drug Administration’s recall reaches everyone who might be affected before any harm occurs remains to be seen. Some of those people could be in here in Ohio. If that happens, they may need to obtain information regarding their rights and legal obligations since it may be possible to pursue restitution for the damage done due to this or another pharmaceutical error.
