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This article was published 16/7/2018 (801 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Thousands of Manitobans are taking heart and high blood pressure drugs with an impurity that could cause cancer.

But, even though Health Canada has recalled several varieties of valsartan, a generic drug, Manitobans and Canadians are being told not to stop taking them until a replacement drug is prescribed for them.

Barret Procyshyn, president of Pharmacists Manitoba, said Monday that there are about 10,000 Manitobans who currently have been prescribed drugs that contain valsartan.

Health Canada is telling people to keep using their drugs, even if they contain valsartan, “unless you have been told to stop by your doctor or pharmacist.” (Michael Lee/The Brandon Sun)

Procyshyn said his organization is notifying all of its members about the recall and what to do.

"We’re dealing with it, but it’s a struggle," he said. "There are up to 10,000 Manitobans on this medication. We’re dealing with it one person at a time... we can do everything except give it (alternative drug) out."

Last week Health Canada announced it was pulling several drugs after it was determined that the valsartan manufacturer in China, which supplied the product to five drug companies to make the drugs, had the impurity N-nitrosodimethylamine in it — a potential human carcinogen.

Health Canada's advisory Information published on Health Canada's website on July 9, 2018, including a list of affected medications. click to read more Information published on Health Canada's website on July 9, 2018, including a list of affected medications. Issue Several drugs containing the ingredient valsartan are being recalled by their manufacturers. An impurity, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), was found in the valsartan used in these products. The valsartan was supplied by Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals. NDMA is a potential human carcinogen, which means that it could cause cancer with long-term exposure. Five companies have affected products, which are being recalled. Drugs containing valsartan are used to treat patients with high blood pressure to help prevent heart attacks and stroke. These drugs are also used in patients who have had heart failure or a recent heart attack. What you should do Keep taking your medicine if it contains valsartan, unless you have been told to stop by your doctor or pharmacist. If you are taking any medication containing valsartan, speak to your pharmacist who can tell you if your medicine is being recalled. If you have been using an affected product, contact your health care practitioner as soon as possible to discuss your treatment options. If you are in a clinical trial with a product containing valsartan and have any questions, speak to the doctor treating you in the trial. Report side effects (adverse events) to health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345, or by reporting online, by mail or by fax. Report complaints about health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free at 1-800-267-9675, or complete an online complaint form. Close

Twenty-two other countries have taken similar action.

Health Canada said the drug could cause cancer "with long-term exposure."

Health Canada is telling people to keep using their drugs, even if they contain valsartan, "unless you have been told to stop by your doctor or pharmacist."

As well, Health Canada is saying people taking the recalled product should "contact your health-care practitioner as soon as possible to discuss your treatment options."

“There are up to 10,000 Manitobans on this medication. We’re dealing with it one person at a time... we can do everything except give it (alternative drug) out.” –Barret Procyshyn

But Procyshyn said another worry is when thousands of Manitobans — and many more across the country — go back to a pharmacy to get their new medication.

"We hope the generic drug manufacturers can get enough of the alternatives," he said. "There are going to be a lot of people switching in the next few weeks.

“We hope the generic drug manufacturers can get enough of the alternatives," says Barret Procyshyn. “There are going to be a lot of people switching in the next few weeks. (Supplied)

"This will cause pressure."

Manitoba Health is also addressing another possible pressure — thousands of patients rushing to see their doctor in a short period of time.

A letter to physicians dated July 12 from Patricia Caetano, executive director of Manitoba’s provincial drug programs, said the drug recall "will result in a shortage of unknown duration and therefore, new starts of valsartan should be avoided, whenever possible."

Caetano said because patients will likely first go to a pharmacy with questions before going to their doctor, "if there is a pharmacy that your patients most commonly use, please consider contacting them to develop a protocol for efficiently managing treatment changes as necessary."

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca