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Advice issued on recalled blood pressure medication

The federal Food and Drug Administration is recalling several batches of blood pressure medication.
Food and Drug Administration
The federal Food and Drug Administration is recalling several batches of blood pressure medication.

The federal Food and Drug Administration has recalled several batches of blood pressure medication, but a local health organization is urging patients to continue taking the products until they check with their doctor or pharmacist.

  The FDA is concerned that the medications may contain a small amount of a chemical called NDEA, which stands for N-Nitrosodiethylamine. That compound is known to cause cancer in animals and suspected to cause cancer in humans, the agency said. It’s also found in small amounts (about one hundred-millionth of an ounce per pound) in smoked and cured meats like bacon.

The Monroe County Medical Society said in a statement Thursday that even if patients find out from their pharmacist that they are using a recalled medication, they should continue taking it until their doctor issues a new prescription. “The risk of sudden discontinuation of the drug is greater than the small risk of exposure,” the statement said.

Federal advice for patients is similar. In a technical update to its recall, the FDA said patients “should continue taking their current medicine until their doctor or pharmacist provides a replacement or a different treatment option.”

Brett was the health reporter and a producer at WXXI News. He has a master’s degree from the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism.