If you or a loved one takes medication for high blood pressure or heart failure, you need to check your medicine cabinet immediately. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation has issued a voluntary nationwide recall for a specific lot of its popular prescription blood pressure drug, Diovan (valsartan).
Here are the quick, essential facts about this recall, why it is happening, and how to check if your prescription is affected.
Why the Recall Was Issued
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the recall after tests revealed the medication failed to meet dissolution specifications.
In plain terms, this means the tablets may not dissolve correctly in the body after they are swallowed. If a pill does not dissolve properly, the body cannot absorb the active ingredient. This can lead to potency issues, meaning patients might not receive the full, life-saving dosage required to keep their blood pressure or heart failure symptoms under control.
How to Check Your Prescription
The recall is highly targeted and currently affects only one specific lot of Diovan. Check your prescription bottle for the following details:
- Medication Name: Diovan (valsartan)
- Tablet Strength: 160-milligram tablets
- Packaging: 90-count bottles
- Affected Lot Number: AV5913C
- Expiration Date: June 2027
The affected medication was manufactured by North Carolina-based Patheon Manufacturing Services LLC and distributed nationwide by Novartis. No other lots of Diovan or valsartan are included in this specific warning.
What You Should Do Next
If your bottle matches the lot number and expiration date listed above, do not abruptly stop taking your blood pressure medication without consulting a healthcare provider. Stopping heart medications suddenly can cause dangerous spikes in blood pressure.
Instead, contact your pharmacy or prescribing doctor immediately to arrange for a safe, fully potent replacement batch.
Read the Original Alert
For more detailed information and updates directly from the food and drug safety regulators, you can read the full report here:
