Ziac Blood Pressure Pills Recalled After Contamination Scare: A Doctor Shares What Every Patient Must Know Now

If you’re one of the 119.9 million Americans the CDC says are living with high blood pressure, you know how important it is to have a medication you can trust. So when news broke that Ziac—a popular blood pressure medication—was recalled due to contamination, it understandably raised concerns. The good news? There are clear steps you can take right now to stay safe and in control of your health. Here’s everything you need to know about the Ziac recall and what it means for you.

Ziac recall: Why was the blood pressure pill contaminated?

It turns out the recall involves cross-contamination with another medication called ezetimibe.

“Ezetimibe treats ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) by lowering the levels in the blood,” says Dr. Burke. “It belongs to a class of drugs known as cholesterol absorption inhibitors. Ezetimibe acts in the small intestine to block the absorption of cholesterol from the food you eat. This prevents it from entering the bloodstream and leading to the buildup of plaques that block arteries.”

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According to USA Today, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., the maker of Ziac, recalled the drug after quality control testing detected ezetimibe in some of the pills.

Dr. Burke explains how the contamination may have happened. “Pharmaceutical companies can develop many different drugs in the same facility using shared equipment,” says Dr. Burke. “If the same machinery used to produce bisoprolol/hydrochlorothiazide pills was not thoroughly cleaned after a production run of ezetimibe pills, trace amounts of ezetimibe powder could be retained and incorporated into the combination pills. This is a cross-contamination error which indicates a breakdown in manufacturing safety protocol.”

Two medications, both used for heart-related health conditions, coming in contact might not sound like a huge deal, but Dr. Burke explains why it is.

Dr. Burke says contamination could expose someone to inconsistent amounts of ezetimibe, making its effects unpredictable. “Introducing contamination also means the bisoprolol/hydrochlorothiazide pills batch dosing may not be accurate between individual pills packaged, leaving the blood pressure ingredients unbalanced and incorrect,” says Dr. Burke. “Each pill might not contain enough of the combination drugs to properly control the patient’s blood pressure, posing a significant health risk.”

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What is Ziac and how does it control blood pressure?

If you or someone you love takes Ziac, you might be wondering, What exactly is it? We asked a doctor to break it down. 

“Ziac is a combination pill that contains both bisoprolol and hydrochlorothiazide,” says Gerome Burke, MD, PhD, a medical toxicologist and physician-scientist with more than two decades of experience in toxicology, translational research, prescription product regulatory strategy and preventative medicine. “It is prescribed to adults who have hypertension and need more than one medication to control their blood pressure effectively.”

“This combination pill treats high blood pressure by two different mechanisms,” says Dr. Burke. “Bisoprolol slows the heart rate and reduces the heart’s workload. Hydrochlorothiazide reduces the body’s fluid volume by removing excess salt and water in the urine. Together, they provide a stronger blood pressure-lowering effect than either drug alone.”

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Urgent: What to do if your Ziac bottle is part of the recalled lot

Recall news can be unsettling, but talking to your doctor before changing your medication routine is key.

“Do not suddenly stop taking blood pressure medication without direction from a healthcare provider,” says Dr. Burke. “This can potentially cause a dangerous spike in blood pressure that could lead to other health concerns [such as] stroke or kidney damage.”

According to The Hill, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says the impacted Ziac packages include:  

• 30-count bottles NDC 68462-878-30
• 100-count bottle NDC 68462-878-01
• 500-count bottles NDC 68462-878-05

“If a patient’s specific bottle is part of the recalled lot, contact the prescribing healthcare provider immediately,” says Dr. Burke. “They can verify if the bottle is from the recalled batch and provide a replacement bottle from an uncontaminated lot. The patient can continue on with their treatment without interruption.”

3 lifestyle changes that support healthy blood pressure

While you’re working with your doctor to ensure you have safe medication, it’s also a good time to remember that you have power over your blood pressure in other ways too. Dr. Burke says these lifestyle approaches can work alongside your medication to support your heart health.

Try the DASH diet 

DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. “This is a heart-healthy diet that involves eating foods rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy while reducing saturated fat and cholesterol,” says Dr. Burke. “One of the key components is to lower sodium (salt) intake. Excess sodium in the bloodstream pulls water into blood vessels, increasing blood volume and pressure.”

Move your body 

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“Enjoying activities like brisk walking, cycling or swimming for at least 150 minutes per week strengthens the heart and mood,” says Dr. Burke. “A stronger heart can pump blood with less effort, which decreases the force (pressure) entering the arteries.”

Support your heart with a healthy weight 

“Generally, excess body weight forces the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body,” says Dr. Burke. “Losing weight can reduce the workload on the heart and the pressure in the arteries.” 

If this recall news has you feeling worried, take a deep breath. You’re not alone, and you have options. By staying informed, working closely with your doctor and supporting your health through simple lifestyle changes, you’re taking powerful steps to protect your heart and wellness.