FDA recalls blood pressure medicine tainted with cancer-causing chemical

The U S Food and Drug Administration says drug makers have recalled more than a half-million bottles of the blood pressure medication prazosin hydrochloride over concerns it may include a cancer-causing chemical New Jersey-based Teva Pharmaceuticals USA and drugs distributor Amerisource Fitness Services issued voluntary nationwide recalls earlier this month of more than bottles of various strengths of prazosine capsules according to the FDA Doctors prescribe prazosin which relaxes blood vessels to help lower blood pressure It also is sometimes prescribed for nightmares and other sleep disturbances caused by post-traumatic stress disorder The FDA disclosed in enforcement orders posted online that it has given the affected lots of the drug a Class II menace classification because specific of the recalled medication may have nitrosamine impurities that are considered potentially cancer causing According to the FDA N-nitrosamine impurities are a class of potentially cancer-causing chemicals that can form during manufacture or storage of a drug Source