CNN
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Pfizer has issued a recall for three medications for high blood pressure, according to the company.
Accuretic and two generic medicines distributed by Greenstone – quinapril and hydrochlorothiazide tablets and quinapril HCl / hydrochlorothiazide tablets – are included in the recall.
The drug treats hypertension, which increases the risk of potentially dangerous cardiovascular events such as stroke.
The recall is voluntary and stems from the tablets, which contain higher levels of nitrosamines, which pose a cancer risk, though Pfizer said in a press release “there is no immediate risk to patients taking this medication.”
“Nitrosamines are common in water and foods, including fried and grilled meats, dairy products and vegetables. All are exposed to some level of nitrosamines. These impurities can increase the risk of cancer if people are exposed to them above acceptable levels for a long time, says Pfizer in the press release.
Nitrosamines can be inadvertently introduced when certain chemical reactions are used in the production of drugs.
The company said it is not aware of any reports of adverse effects resulting from the use of the drug, adding that the products have a safety profile established over more than 20 years, according to the release.
Distributors and wholesalers should stop using and distributing and “quarantine the product immediately,” the release said.
Pfizer recommended that patients taking the medication consult with their physician about alternative treatment options.
High blood pressure is a growing problem: The number of people over the age of 30 with the condition has doubled over the last 30 years, according to a 2021 study.