THE Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) advises consumers and health professionals that it is investigating the potential contamination of 'sartan' blood pressure medicines.
Angiotensin receptor blockers are a class of medicines that is used to treat hypertension - they include valsartan, irbesartan, candesartan, losartan and olmesartan.
Internationally, a number of these medicines have been identified as having unacceptable levels of impurities, specifically N-nitroso compounds.
First identified in Jul 2018, in product manufactured at a specific Chinese site, the contamination scare has now broadened to include more 'sartan' products, although risks are thought to be "very low" - see tga.gov.au.
"The actual health risks depend on dose and will vary from person to person," the TGA said.
TGA advises consumers not to cease their medication without consulting their GP or pharmacist.
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