The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recalled blood pressure medications after discovering cross-contamination with a drug used to treat high cholesterol.
On December 1, the agency announced a recall of approximately 11,100 bottles of the combination drug bisoprolol fumarate and hydrochlorothiazide, marketed under the brand name Ziac, Fox Business. reported.
Testing of a blood pressure drug found “trace amounts of ezetimibe”, a drug used to treat high cholesterol.
The FDA has classified the recall as Class III, meaning exposure to the contaminated product is “not likely to result in adverse health effects.”
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, based in Elmwood Park, New Jersey, makes both blood pressure medications and medications used to treat high cholesterol.
According to the FDA, the recall affects:
- Bottles of 30 pieces (NDC 68462-878-30)
- Bottles of 100 pieces (NDC 68462-878-01)
- Bottles of 500 pieces (NDC 68462-878-05)
Recalled pills arrive The doses are 2.5 milligrams and 6.25 milligrams, and the expiration dates for the recalled tablets span from November 2025 to May 2026, according to the report.
“According to the Mayo Clinic, bisoprolol fumarate and hydrochlorothiazide are usually prescribed together. Bisoprolol helps the heart beat more regularly, while hydrochlorothiazide increases urination by removing excess sodium and water,” the report states. “Taken together, these drugs help relax blood vessels, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.”
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and the FDA did not respond to the agency's request for comment by the time of publication.
