A popular blood pressure medication has been withdrawn from the market due to concerns about potential contamination with another drug.
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc in the US has initiated a recall of more than 11,100 bottles of bisoprolol fumarate and hydrochlorothiazide tablets, known as Ziac. The recall notice issued by the Food and Drug Administration indicates that the tablets might have been tainted with other substances.
These tablets are commonly prescribed to manage high blood pressure, or hypertension, by blocking beta-1 receptors in the heart to regulate its rhythm, as per information from WebMD.
The recall notice reveals that testing of samples detected the presence of ezetimibe, a medication used for treating high cholesterol. The FDA categorized the December 1 recall as Class III, signifying that exposure to the affected product is unlikely to pose significant health risks.
The impacted pills are available in 2.5mg and 6.25mg strengths, with specific package sizes including 30-count bottles NDC-68462-878-30, 100-count bottles NDC-68462-878-01, and 500-count bottles NDC-68462-878-05, as per the recall details.
The affected batches have expiration dates ranging from November 2025 to May 2026, with a total of 11,136 bottles being part of the recall. Instructions from the FDA regarding actions for patients with affected medication have not been released yet.