More than 11,000 bottles of Ziac were pulled from shelves after tests found traces of a cholesterol drug.<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON \u2014 A New Jersey pharmaceutical company has voluntarily recalled more than 11,000 bottles of a widely used blood pressure medication after testing revealed contamination with a cholesterol-lowering drug,\u00a0the Food and Drug Administration announced.<\/a><\/p>\n Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., based in Elmwood Park, initiated the recall for specific lots of Ziac, a combination medication containing bisoprolol fumarate and hydrochlorothiazide. The tablets, manufactured at the company’s facility in Pithampur, India, were distributed nationwide.<\/p>\n Testing of reserve samples detected traces of ezetimibe, a prescription medication used to reduce cholesterol absorption in the intestines. The contamination appears to have occurred during the manufacturing process, according to the FDA enforcement report.<\/p>\n The recall affects 11,136 bottles in three sizes: 30-count, 100-count and 500-count containers. The affected lots include numbers 17232401 and 17240974, with expiration dates ranging from November 2025 to May 2026.<\/p>\n The FDA classified the recall as Class III, its lowest-risk category, indicating the contaminated medication is unlikely to cause adverse health effects. Ezetimibe, while safe when prescribed for cholesterol management, should not be present in blood pressure medications.<\/p>\n Patients taking Ziac should check their prescription bottles for the affected lot numbers, which are typically printed near the expiration date. The recalled products carry NDC numbers 68462-878-30, 68462-878-01 and 68462-878-05.<\/p>\n Health officials recommend patients continue taking their medication unless instructed otherwise by their healthcare provider. Those with questions about whether their medication is affected should contact their pharmacist.<\/p>\n The company notified customers by letter, and the recall remains ongoing as the firm works to remove affected products from distribution channels.<\/p>\n