High blood pressure tablets recalled in Scotland amid 'impurity' concerns

dailyrecord.co.uk:

High blood pressure tablets have been recalled in Scotland amid "impurity" concerns.Twelve batches of Pfizer Accupro have been removed from the shelves as a precautionary measure.UK watchdogs say that the drug - used to prevent strokes and heart attacks - was over its accepted limit for the daily dose of N-Nitroso-quinapril.There is no evidence to suggest that this impurity will cause harm to patients.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has advised those who are prescribed the medicine to make a route appointment with a GP to discuss other treatment options.

Until the manufacturing process is changed so that this impurity is eliminated or kept at or below the required level, there will be no quinapril products in the UK market.Treating a patient's high blood pressure or heart failure, however, should not be delayed or impacted as there are other treatment options available.

Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, said: “Patient safety is our highest priority. This is a precautionary recall from pharmacies and wholesalers because an impurity which has been detected in some tablets is over its accepted limit. "There is no evidence to date that this impurity has caused any harm to patients.“You should make a routine appointment with your GP to discuss other treatment options and meanwhile it’s important that you continue to take your Accupro (quinapril) tablets.“If you stop taking your Accupro tablets, the risk of this leading to a heart attack or stroke is much higher than the potential increased risk of harm associated with long-term exposure to this impurity.“We have required the manufacturer of Accupro tablets supplied to the UK to review their manufacturing process so that this impurity