If you or someone in your family takes blood pressure medication, now is the time to check your medication cabinet. Teva Pharmaceuticals has voluntarily recalled more than 580,000 bottles of prazosin hydrochloride capsules after tests revealed the chemical may increase the risk of cancer. Although no injuries have been reported, medical experts take the recall seriously and stress the importance of consulting a doctor before making any changes.
Why the recall occurred
The capsules contained impurity C, N-nitrosoprazosin, a compound linked to cancer, exceeding U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety standards. Many patients safely take prazosin daily to relax blood vessels, improve circulation, and manage high blood pressure. However, these batches exceeded acceptable limits, triggering a recall. The company announced the recall on October 7, 2025, and the FDA classified it as a Class II recall on October 24.
A Class II recall means that the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health effects, but no serious harm or death is possible. Although serious consequences are unlikely, the recall indicates that patients should act quickly to prevent potential long-term exposure. According to Teva’s health risk assessment, the overall risk to the patient population is considered moderate.
Drugs Affected
The subjects of this recall are 1mg, 2mg, and 5mg capsules, with a total of 580,844 bottles across 55 lots nationwide. Capsules were packaged in units of 100 to 1,000.
- 1mg: 181,659 bottles (Lot #3010544A, #3010545A; Expires October 2025)
- 2mg: 291,512 bottles (multiple lots, expiration October 2025 – July 2026)
- 5mg: 107,673 bottles (multiple lots, expires March 2026)
All capsules were manufactured and distributed by Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., North Wales, Pennsylvania. Patients should carefully check the lot numbers and expiration dates on all bottles. Many households keep multiple prescriptions in cabinets, drawers or suitcases, so recalled bottles can easily be overlooked.
what you need to do
If you have recalled capsules:
- Compare your bottles to the FDA’s list of affected lot numbers.
- Contact your pharmacy for instructions on how to safely return or replace your medication.
- Stopping your blood pressure medication suddenly may increase your risk of serious complications, so talk to your healthcare provider before stopping your prescription.
- To keep your prescriptions safe, write down the medications and expiration dates.
- Monitor for unusual symptoms and report any concerns immediately, even if none have been reported.
- For unused capsules, follow the disposal instructions provided by your pharmacy or doctor.
Why this recall is important
Prazosin, sometimes sold as Minipress, is an alpha blocker used to treat high blood pressure. One bottle may not cause immediate harm, but repeated exposure to unsafe chemicals over time can increase health risks. Teva emphasizes that alternative treatments for hypertension are available and that patient safety is a priority at all stages of the medicine life cycle.
This recall also highlights the importance of staying vigilant about medications, reviewing recall notices, and maintaining communication with your healthcare provider. Taking just a few minutes to check your prescriptions, inspect your medicine cabinet, and check expiration dates can help prevent long-term risk and give you peace of mind.
For a complete list of recalled lots and additional details, please visit: FDA Recall Notice.
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