NDMA in Valsartan: What You Need to Know About the Contaminant and Recalls

When NDMA in valsartan, a probable human carcinogen found in some batches of the blood pressure medication valsartan. Also known as N-nitrosodimethylamine, it’s a chemical that shouldn’t be in your medicine—but it was, in enough doses to trigger global recalls. This wasn’t a minor glitch. In 2018, the FDA and health agencies worldwide pulled millions of pills off shelves because they contained levels of NDMA that could raise cancer risk over time. It wasn’t the drug itself—valsartan works fine. It was the manufacturing process that went wrong, letting this contaminant slip in.

NDMA is the same compound found in small amounts in smoked meats, tobacco smoke, and even drinking water—but when it shows up in pills you take daily, the dose adds up. People taking valsartan for high blood pressure or heart failure were suddenly asked to switch meds, even if they felt fine. That’s because cancer risk from NDMA isn’t immediate—it’s about long-term exposure. The valsartan contamination, a widespread issue affecting multiple generic manufacturers. Also known as sartan recalls, it exposed how fragile the global supply chain for cheap generics can be. Manufacturers in India and China, who produce most of the world’s generic valsartan, had to fix their chemical processes. Some companies didn’t. Others got caught again later. The FDA kept updating its list of recalled products for years after the initial alert.

What does this mean for you now? If you’re still on valsartan, check the label. Your pharmacy should have switched you to a safe batch. If you’re unsure, call your doctor or pharmacist—don’t stop your medicine on your own. Blood pressure meds can’t be skipped. But you also don’t need to take a risk. The recalled blood pressure meds, a category that included other ARBs like losartan and irbesartan. Also known as ARB recalls, this event changed how regulators monitor drug purity. Today, testing for NDMA is standard for all ARB drugs. But the lesson stays: generic doesn’t mean unsafe—but it does mean you need to stay informed.

You’ll find posts here that explain how generic drugs are tested for safety, what to do if your medication gets pulled, and how to spot hidden risks in your prescriptions. Some cover how drug manufacturing flaws happen. Others show how to talk to your doctor about switching meds safely. There’s even a guide on how to use mail-order pharmacies to avoid running out during a recall. This isn’t just about valsartan. It’s about understanding what’s in your medicine—and who’s responsible for keeping it clean.