Blood Pressure Medication Prazosin Recalled for Potential Cancer Risk
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Blood Pressure Medication Recalled Because of Impurities Linked to Cancer

Over half a million bottles of prazosin hydrochloride were recalled because testing showed unacceptable levels of compounds tied to cancer.
Blood Pressure Medication Recalled Because of Impurities Linked to Cancer
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Published on October 30, 2025
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Over half a million bottles of the blood pressure medication prazosin hydrochloride were recalled by drug manufacturer Teva because of higher-than-acceptable levels of impurities called N-nitrosamines, according to an enforcement report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The enforcement report listed the recall as a Class 2 event, which indicates that the affected medications “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”

The recall affects 1 , 2, and 5 milligram (mg) doses of prazosin hydrochloride, an alpha-blocker that is FDA-approved to treat high blood pressure. The medication is also used off-label to treat benign enlarged prostate, nightmares tied to PTSD, and temporary discoloration of the extremities due to cold exposure.

You can check the lot number on your prescription to see if it was included in the FDA’s list.

 Neither the FDA nor Teva indicated whether consumers should throw out prazosin included in this recall.
For class 2 recalls, the FDA says that people can usually keep taking recalled medications unless the manufacturer says otherwise. In some cases, stopping your medicine may be more harmful than continuing to take it. You should talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions or concerns about your medicine.

What Are N-Nitrosamines?

Nitrosamines are chemicals commonly found in water and foods, including cured and grilled meats, dairy, and vegetables. We are all exposed to some amount of nitrosamines.

N-nitrosamine impurities can form during the manufacture or storage of a drug. The FDA says that nitrosamine impurities may increase cancer risk if people are exposed to them above acceptable levels and over long periods of time — but if you took a medication with nitrosamine levels at or below accepted levels, every single day for 70 years, you would not be expected to have a higher cancer risk.

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Enforcement Report. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. October 24, 2025.
  2. Recalls Background and Definitions. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. July 31, 2014.
  3. Basquez R et al. Prazosin. StatPearls. August 17, 2023.
  4. Drug Recall Information for Consumers, Health Care Professionals and Industry. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. October 30, 2025.
  5. Information about Nitrosamine Impurities in Medications. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. September 4, 2024.
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