If you take a combination blood pressure pill, it’s worth checking your bottle. Nearly 3,800 bottles of a generic three-drug blood pressure medication have been recalled nationwide because the tablets didn’t dissolve properly in lab testing.
Key Takeaways
- Macleods Pharma USA has recalled 3,744 bottles of olmesartan medoxomil, amlodipine and hydrochlorothiazide tablets, 40 mg/10 mg/12.5 mg. It’s a generic version of the brand-name drug Tribenzor.
- The reason is “failed dissolution specifications,” meaning the tablets didn’t break down as expected in testing, which may affect how well the medicine is absorbed.
- The FDA classified it as a Class II recall on October 26, 2026, meaning the drug may cause temporary or medically reversible health problems, but serious harm is considered unlikely.
- The recalled bottles were distributed nationwide. Only two lots, both expiring May 31, 2027, are affected.
- Don’t stop taking your blood pressure medication on your own. Check your bottle, then talk to your pharmacist or doctor about a replacement.
What’s been recalled
Macleods Pharma USA, based in New Jersey, started the recall on October 7, 2026. The FDA classified it on October 26, and it’s still ongoing.
Check your bottle for these details:
| Bottle size | NDC | Lot number | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 tablets | 33342-246-07 | 12251163A | 05/31/2027 |
| 90 tablets | 33342-246-10 | 12251163B | 05/31/2027 |
The drug name and strength on the label will read olmesartan medoxomil, amlodipine and hydrochlorothiazide tablets, 40 mg/10 mg/12.5 mg. If your pharmacy put the pills in its own bottle, the lot number may not be on the label. Your pharmacist can look it up for you.
Macleods hasn’t issued a press release or consumer instructions.
Why dissolution matters
Before a pill can work, it has to break down in your digestive system so the medicine can be absorbed into your bloodstream. Dissolution tests check that tablets release their medicine at the right rate.
When a tablet fails this test, it may release medicine too slowly or unevenly. With a blood pressure drug, that could mean your blood pressure isn’t as well controlled as it should be. The FDA’s Class II rating means the risk of serious harm is considered remote.
This pill combines three blood pressure medicines in one tablet:
- Olmesartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), which relaxes blood vessels
- Amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker, which widens arteries
- Hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic or “water pill,” which helps the body get rid of extra salt and water
What to do
- Check your bottle for the NDC and lot numbers listed above.
- Keep taking your medication until you’ve talked to your pharmacist or doctor. Stopping blood pressure medicine suddenly can cause your blood pressure to rise, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Call your pharmacy. Ask whether your prescription came from a recalled lot and whether they can replace it with a different lot or manufacturer.
- Check your blood pressure at home if you have a monitor, and let your doctor know if your readings are higher than usual.
- Get help right away if you have signs of very high blood pressure, such as a severe headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, vision changes, confusion or weakness on one side of the body.
- Report problems to the FDA’s MedWatch program.
Not the first blood pressure drug recall this fall
This recall follows several others for generic blood pressure medicines in 2026. In September, India-based Inventia Healthcare recalled more than 13,500 bottles of 25 mg chlorthalidone tablets, also for failing dissolution testing. Recalls like these are a reminder to check any recall notices your pharmacy sends you.
This isn’t a substitute for medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have concerns about your medication.
Sources:
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Enforcement Report: Macleods Pharma USA, olmesartan medoxomil, amlodipine and hydrochlorothiazide tablets, classified October 26, 2026.
- Fox Business: Thousands of blood pressure medication bottles recalled nationwide after pills fail quality test.
- The Healthy: FDA: More than 3,000 bottles of blood pressure drug recalled nationwide.