Medication used for high blood pressure recalled. Here's what to know - USA Today

A recall of medication often used to manage high blood pressure could be concerning to a lot of Americans, as nearly 50% of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While there are several methods to managing high blood pressure, like getting regular exercise and eating healthy foods, some rely on medications to help keep it under control. One such method is the use of diuretics, also called "water pills."

In the past four months, more than 25,000 of bottles of the diuretic chlorthalidone have been recalled for improper dissolution, which can impact the effectiveness of the drug.

Here's what to know and how to check if you could be impacted.

Chlorthalidone is a diuretic, or water pill, that reduces the amount of water and salt in the body by increasing urine flow, which helps to lower blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic.

It can also be used to treat fluid retention, or edema, that is caused by congestive heart failure, severe liver disease, kidney disease, or treatment with a hormone or steroid medicine, the Mayo Clinic says.

Inventia Healthcare Limited, based in India, has issued two recalls for more than 25,000 bottles of its chlorthalidone tablets because the medication failed dissolution specifications, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means the medication does not dissolve or break down at the correct speed in the body, which can affect how the active ingredient is absorbed.

Inventia Healthcare released an initial recall for the blood pressure medication on June 5, affecting 11,460 bottles. The company released a secondary recall for 13,567 bottles on Sept. 3.

The FDA has identified both recalls as Class II, which reflects "a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote."

The recall affects Inventia Healthcare Limited's 25 milligram chlorthalidone tablets, sold in 100- and 1,000-tablet bottles, according to the FDA report. The tablets expire in April 2027, and the batch codes for the recalled tablets are:

First, contact your health care provider for medical guidance. The FDA also says that, specifically for class II and III recalls, "consumers can generally continue taking the medicine unless the recalling company provides other instructions."

"In some instances, stopping your medicine may be more harmful to your health than continuing to take the recalled medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions or concerns about your medicine," the agency advises.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.