The FDA has announced an urgent nationwide recall of a commonly used medication after detecting a potentially cancer-causing substance. Millions of patients are being urged to stop taking it right away and consult their doctors about safer alternatives to protect their health.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced a voluntary recall of Chantix, a widely used prescription medication designed to help people stop smoking. The move follows routine quality testing that detected higher-than-acceptable levels of nitrosamines in certain batches of the drug.

Nitrosamines are chemical compounds that can naturally be found in small amounts in food and water. However, when present at elevated levels in medications, they may pose health risks. Prolonged exposure to these substances has been associated with a higher likelihood of developing cancer, which is why health authorities around the world monitor and regulate their presence closely.