A recall of several blood pressure medicines was announced by the Danish Medicines Agency after they were found to contain potentially threatening impurities.
The recall affects a variation of medicines that contain Valsartan, a substance that can increase the chances of cancer.
The agency said that patients with high blood pressure taking Valsartan should not stop taking the pills but need to contact their doctor as soon as possible to get it changed to another medicine.
No immediate danger
“There is no acute health threat to patients, but we know from trials with animals that it can cause cancer,” Doris Stenved, the chief physician at the Danish Medicines Agency, told DR Nyheder.
“We don’t know if it has the same effect on humans, we just know it’s a substance that should not be in the medicine,” she added.
According to the agency, there are around 1.200 people currently taking the recalled medicines. The impurities found could have been in the medicine for up to five years, which means patients may have been exposed for an extended period.
Issue to be looked at further
The drugs in question were found to be sold by the companies 2Care4, Orifarm and Stada.
The Danish Medicines Agency is still unable to provide clarity on what to do if you have been taking the recalled drugs for an extended period of time.
“Currently, we are not aware that patients have had any side-effects or been ill because of the drug,” said Stenved.
She added that the agency would be looking into what will happen with the patients who had taken the drug.
