Three brands of high blood pressure medication containing higher than acceptable levels of Losartan have been recalled by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) on 28 Mar.
The products affected by the potentially harmful impurity are the 50mg and 100mg tablets from Losartas, Losagen and Hyperten and distributed by local suppliers Apotheca Marketing, Medicell Pharmaceutical and Goldplus Universal, respectively.
Losartas is prescribed in the public healthcare institutions, while Losartas, Losagen, and Hyperten are prescribed at private healthcare institutions.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said that about 137,000 patients in Singapore are affected.
The recalled drugs were also found to contain trace amount of N-nitro-N-methyl-4-aminobutyric acid (NMBA), which is higher than the international accepted levels.
Exposure to this nitrosamine impurity at high quantities over a long-term period may potentially increase the risk of cancer.
HSA advised patients not to stop or change the treatment on their own as there is no immediate health risk. However, a sudden stop in the usage of these drugs can pose a greater immediate risk to their health instead.
Affected patients are also advised to consult their healthcare provider on their treatment plan. If their medical appointments are scheduled on or after 1 Jul, they will be contacted for an earlier consultation.
The other seven brands of Losartan medicines marketed in Singapore are not affected by this impurity.
Reportedly, the drugs were found to be manufactured by an Indian pharmaceutical company, Hetero Labs.
Currently, HSA is working with companies and international regulatory agencies to verify the cause of contamination and to devise preventive measures to ensure that the medicines will not contain these impurities in future.
Please spread this around to your family and friends who are taking these medications. Remember, health is wealth. Stay healthy, so you would not be reliant of such drugs.
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