Alert: Ministry bans harmful blood pressure medicine in UAE

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap) has issued an advisory against the use of a popular blood pressure medicine from the market.

The ministry issued a circular to withdraw all medicines of Irsotan 150 and 300 mg tablets used for treating high blood pressure.

The Mohap noted that the product is not registered in its medicine department, calling for taking necessary measures to withdraw the product from the market and prevent its circulation or import.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority and international regulatory organisations reported that the medicine contains a substance, NDEA (N-Nitrosodiethylamine), that might contain carcinogenic impurities, according to Al Bayan.

NDEA is part of the active ingredient Irbesartan which is imported from China. The substance acts as a high blood pressure inhibitor.