Another cancer-causing chemical has been uncovered in valsartan blood-pressure pills (manufactured by Novartis and other companies). Valisure, an online Connecticut-based pharmaceutical company made the discovery and has filed a petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The chemical solvent dimethylformamide, or DMF, was detected in the heart drug by Valisure, who has petitioned the FDA to pull the blood pressure meds that have high levels of the chemical solvent and to require future medications to have lower levels of the solvent. The World Health Organization classified DMF as a probable carcinogen last year.
Other probable carcinogens that have been found in the drug valsartan over the past year include N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).
The FDA stated it will review Valisure’s findings. In the meantime, consumers are advised to contact their healthcare providers about how to proceed. Some experts questioned by journalists have advised that consumers continue taking the medication as all samples tested were significantly below the FDA’s current permissible level for DMF (8.8 milligrams per day).
Source: Reuters
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