Some 135 batches of blood pressure medications have been recalled over fears that the capsules do not dissolve properly when swallowed by patients.
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has initiated a voluntary recall of 114 lots of potassium chloride 750 mg in bottles containing 100 and 500 pills, with all specific lot numbers and expiration dates listed on a document distributed by the FDA.
Likewise, American Health Packaging voluntarily retired 21 batches of the same medication on behalf of BluePoint Laboratories.
According to a company advertisementFailure to dissolve potassium chloride extended-release capsules may result in high levels of potassium in the blood, also known as hyperkalemia.
Hyperkalemia can cause an “irregular heart rhythm that can lead to cardiac arrest.”
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals recently initiated a voluntary recall of 114 lots of potassium chloride 750 mg in bottles containing 100 and 500 pills.
Pictured: The defective pill capsules that have been recalled by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and American Health Packaging
Pictured: The label found on the 500-capsule bottle of the recalled blood pressure medication.
Pictured: The label found on the 500-capsule bottle of the recalled blood pressure medication bearing the BluePoint Laboratories brand name
Patients taking this medication to control high blood pressure and prevent heart or kidney failure are at extreme risk, as the body’s delivery of the pills has been compromised.
People prescribed these particular recalled lots could experience a variety of symptoms of hyperkalemia, including “heart arrhythmias, severe muscle weakness, and death.”
Glenmark has not yet received any reports of hyperkalemia or any of the adverse events described.
These potassium chloride pills have already been distributed to wholesalers, distributors and retailers nationwide, prompting Glenmark to write letters to these customers telling them to immediately remove the products from shelves.
People who have been prescribed this medication are advised to consult with their doctor before stopping taking it.
Additionally, the company recommends that consumers call their doctor or healthcare provider if they experience the onset of any symptoms of hyperkalemia.
The FDA encourages people to report adverse events through its MedWatch adverse event reporting program, either online, by mail, or by fax.
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