I May Have Been Affected by the Valsartan Recall. What Are the Most Important
Things for Me to Know?
The recent FDA recall of a popular blood pressure and heart failure medication
due to contamination with a cancer-causing agent has left millions of
patients feeling confused, angry, and misled. Attorneys at Wagner Reese
are hard at work investigating the failures that allowed the contamination
of Valsartan medication to go unnoticed for years. We have compiled a
list of the top seven things we think patients should know in light of
the recent Valsartan recall:
- What medications are included in the recall?
- Not all Valsartan medications have been included in the FDA recall. Only
Valsartan medications manufactured by certain companies have been recalled,
including those from Teva Pharmaceutical, Major Pharmaceuticals, Solco
Healthcare, and others. You can find a full list at the
FDA website.
- Not all Valsartan medications have been included in the FDA recall. Only
- I took Valsartan, what should I do now?
- Contact your pharmacist to learn if your medication has been part of the
recall. We recommend asking your pharmacist whether
any of the blood pressure medications you have taken since 2012 may have been
included in the recall.
- Contact your pharmacist to learn if your medication has been part of the
- I have confirmed that my medication was part of the recall, what do I do now?
- Do not stop taking your medication until you have consulted with your prescribing
doctor to discuss your options. Valsartan alternatives exist. Abruptly
stopping Valsartan medication without a replacement could cause significant
harm. Speak with your prescribing physician before making any treatment
decisions. - Keep any medication, prescription bottles, or recall notices that are still
in your possession. - Contact an attorney to learn about your rights.
- Do not stop taking your medication until you have consulted with your prescribing
- I have cancer, could it have been caused by this drug?
- Our research has shown that there is a 1 in 8,000 change of getting cancer
after being exposed to the amounts of carcinogen found in some Valsartan
medications. Although this may not seem like a lot, this is a significant
risk that should be taken seriously.
- Our research has shown that there is a 1 in 8,000 change of getting cancer
- What kinds of cancer are caused by the contaminant, NDMA?
- The answer is still being investigated by toxicologists. Right now, we
believe the NDMA contaminant could cause an increased risk for numerous
types of cancer, including liver, kidney, stomach, colon, esophagus, respiratory
tract cancers, and others.
- The answer is still being investigated by toxicologists. Right now, we
- Are there other harmful effects caused by NDMA?
- Liver damage is another concern from this chemical contaminant, and possibly
kidney damage. Other effects are being investigated. We recommend consulting
with your primary care physician to obtain appropriate testing if you
have concerns regarding your liver or kidney function after taking Valsartan.
- Liver damage is another concern from this chemical contaminant, and possibly
- Does it matter how many long I was taking Valsartan?
- We believe that individuals taking recalled Valsartan for longer than 30
days warrant investigation. Based upon our research, patients taking Valsartan
from 2012 to the present may have the strongest possibility of receiving
contaminated medication.
- We believe that individuals taking recalled Valsartan for longer than 30
If you or loved ones may have been harmed by contaminated Valsartan medication,
contact the aggressive trail lawyers at Wagner Reese, LLP, at (888) 204-8440.