Do you have high blood pressure and take medication to help control it? Then you need to pay attention to a new recall on a popular medication taken by many with high blood pressure.

The FDA issued recall is described as:

“A shipment of Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets USP 12.5 mg distributed by Accord Healthcare Inc. is being voluntarily recalled after a 100 count bottle actually contained 100 Spironolactone Tablets USP 25 mg.”

“The bottle was a part of batch PW05264, and the FDA says it was a potential mix up of labeling.”

If you take a 12.5 mg hydrochlorothiazide tablet to help control your blood pressure, you need to take a close look at your tablets. They should have an H on one side and the number 1 on the other. If your tablets do not have those markings, take them to your pharmacy immediately.

If you take a dose of 25mg hydrochlorothiazide, like I do, the recall does not affect you.

According to the recall notice:

“Use of spironolactone tablets instead of hydrochlorothiazide tablets, poses the risk of contracting hyperkalemia (increase potassium levels) in certain individuals, resulting in adverse events that range from limited health consequences to life-threatening situations in certain individuals.”

Increased potassium levels can be fatal. A good friend of ours at church was in the hospital about a year ago and he almost died. They called his wife and family in, believing he would not survive the night. Then they discovered that his potassium level was very high and took immediate action to reduce his potassium.

Consider this, when a veterinarian puts a pet down, many of them use a solution of potassium chloride or some other potassium mixture. The high level of potassium causes the heart to slow down and then stop.

Prisons used to use a similar solution for lethal injections before liberals chimed in and forced a change.

So, what does hydrochlorothiazide tablets do to help lower high blood pressure?

Have you ever heard anyone say they take a water pill? Chances are, this is what they are talking about. Hydrochlorothiazide tablets causes a person to urinate more often, which helps eliminate excess water and salt from the body, both of which contribute to high blood pressure. Hence, the water pill helps you get rid of water.

Sometimes, hydrochlorothiazide tablets are given to people suffering from hearth failure, liver or kidney disease. The removal of excess fluid helps the recovery or treatment for all of these conditions.

If you still have any questions about your hydrochlorothiazide tablets, take them and talk to your pharmacists. They will know all of the details of the FDA recall and can tell you if yours are safe or not.