The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that more than half a million bottles of the blood pressure medication prazosin hydrochloride have been recalled because they may contain a potentially cancer-causing chemical.
According to the FDA, New Jersey-based Teva Pharmaceuticals USA and drug distributor Amerisource Health Services voluntarily recalled over 580,000 bottles of prazosin capsules of various strengths earlier this month.
Prazosin is commonly prescribed to lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels. Doctors also use it to treat nightmares and other sleep-related issues linked to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The FDA stated in its online enforcement reports that the recalled lots have been classified as a Class II risk due to possible contamination with nitrosamine impurities, which are believed to be potentially cancer-causing.
The agency explained that N-nitrosamine impurities are a group of chemicals that may form during the manufacturing or storage of certain drugs and have been linked to cancer risks.