Blood medication recall: FDA says Teva Pharmaceuticals USA recalled prazosin hydrochloride over cancer-causing chemical concern

Drugmakers have recalled more than half a million bottles of the blood pressure drug prazosin hydrochloride over concerns it may contain the cancer-causing chemical, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

New Jersey-based Teva Pharmaceuticals USA and drug distributor Amerisource Health Services issued voluntary nationwide recalls earlier this month of more than 580,000 bottles of prazosin capsules of varying strengths, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Doctors prescribe prazosin, which relaxes blood vessels, to help lower blood pressure. It is also sometimes prescribed for nightmares and other sleep disturbances caused by PTSD.

The US Food and Drug Administration said in enforcement orders posted online that it had given the affected lots of the drug a Class 2 risk rating because some of the recalled drugs may contain nitrosamine impurities that are considered likely to cause cancer.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, N-nitrosamine impurities are a class of potentially cancer-causing chemicals that can form during drug manufacturing or storage.