Valsartan Lawsuit

We are actively investigating claims on behalf of patients who took blood pressure medication containing valsartan and were later diagnosed with liver damage, tumors, or cancer. Patients who received blood pressure medication containing valsartan may have legal recourse against the drug manufacturer.

If you or a loved one took medication that included valsartan and experienced these adverse effects, please contact us to discuss your potential litigation and address any questions you have with our attorneys.

What is Valsartan?

Valsartan is an active ingredient in many generic drugs, including drugs used to treat hypertension, heart failure, left ventricular heart failure, and left ventricular heart dysfunction following myocardial infarction.

Valsartan is also prescribed in conjunction with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) to treat hypertension.

2018 FDA, European Recall

In May 2018, the European Medicines Agency announced its discovery that there existed a potentially dangerous impurity in valsartan medication sourced from Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals, a Chinese drug manufacturer.

In July 2018, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recall for several types of generic valsartan, warning that the manufacturing process of these drugs resulted in impurities including a substance known as N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which is believed to increase the risk of cancer in animals and humans. NDMA is an organic chemical that is both toxic and carcinogenic, especially when mixed with water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicates that the safe limit for human ingestion of NDMA is 96 nanograms. FDA investigation of the contaminated valsartan lots demonstrates that the recalled pills exceeded safe levels.

Specific versions of Valsartan and Valsartan HCTZ may include the contaminated ingredients, thereby exposing patients to an increased risk of cancer and other serious side effects.

Many valsartan recalls been announced by the FDA to date, impacting batches sold by many pharmaceutical companies or re-packagers, including:

Major Pharmaceuticals
Actavis
Teva Pharmaceuticals
Solco Healthcare
A-S Medication Solutions LLC
AvKARE

RemedyRepack
Bryant Ranch Prepack Inc.
H.J. Harkins Company, Inc.
Lake Erie Medical, Doing Business As Quality Care Products LLC
NuCare Pharmaceuticals
Proficient Rx

The Food and Drug Administration estimates that between 3 million and 3.7 million patients have been prescribed medications containing valsartan each year for a three-year period ending in 2018. According to Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, the FDA has “carefully assessed the valsartan-containing medications sold in the United States, and we’ve found that the valsartan sold by these specific companies does not meet our safety standards. This is why we’ve asked these companies to take immediate action to protect patients”. With this FDA action, the United States joins 22 other countries that have taken action involving valsartan.

The FDA’s press releases have unequivocally linked the presence of NDMA in valsartan to an error in the manufacturing process, stating that “the presence of NDMA [in valsartan] was unexpected and is thought to be related to changes in the way the active substance was manufactured.” As a result, the FDA is conducting a full-scale, comprehensive investigation into the safety of the recalled products.

The FDA’s online adverse events reporting system indicates that there have been more than 19,000 severe reports, including more than 2,800 deaths, related to valsartan injury dating back to 2009.

If you took or are taking valsartan drugs that you believe are included in this recall, contact your doctor or healthcare provider immediately to discuss next steps. The FDA cautions patients against stopping the use of valsartan products “cold turkey” without first garnering advice from their doctor, as an abrupt stopping of the drug can cause severe adverse effects. Contact your doctor to discuss what course of action is best for you.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of NDMA Exposure?

Short-term exposure to NDMA can cause liver damage, whereas long-term exposure may also reduce platelet counts in the blood. Long-term ingestion of NDMA may lead to an increased occurrence of tumors in the liver, kidneys or lungs, according to the results of animal studies cited by the EPA.

Potential symptoms of NDMA over-exposure include:

Headache
Fever
Nausea
Jaundice
Vomiting

Abdominal Cramps
Enlarged Liver
Dizziness
Reduced Function Of Liver, Kidneys, And Lungs

NDMA-laced Valsartan can also cause or exacerbate symptoms of kidney impairment, which include weight gain and swelling in hands, feet or ankles. The toxins may also increase potassium levels in the blood, which can be problematic for patients with heart or kidney conditions.

What should I do?

If you or a loved one took valsartan and later developed complications like liver, kidney or lung cancer or liver damage, please call our attorneys for a confidential discussion of your rights and next steps.

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Valsartan Lawsuit