Global Recall of the Common Heartburning Drugs Over the Risk of Cancer

Ranitidine is an OTC (over-the-counter) & prescription drug with H2 (histamine-2) blocker that is mainly used for decreasing the amount stomach acid. OTC ranitidine has been approved of preventing as well as relieving heartburn accompanying acid ingestion followed by sour stomach. Prescription ranitidine is approved for numerous symptoms, comprising treatment plus prevention of stomach & intestine ulcers.

However, recent recalls in terms of ranitidine, posted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lately, are the latest in a series that initiated in September 2019, when the FDA alerted the public to the presence of a probable human carcinogen, N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), in a few ranitidine medications. Ranitidine is the generic form of Zantac that is obtainable over the counter & by prescription.

The FDA's declaration impelled national drugstore chains to pull ranitidine medications from their shelves “out an abundance of caution.” Several drug manufacturers followed with voluntary recalls for their medications. Now, more are joining the line including Appco Pharma LLC as well as Northwind Pharmaceuticals who are voluntarily recalling prescription ranitidine hydrochloride capsules & ranitidine tablets (150 mg and 300 mg, manufactured by Glenmark Pharmaceutical Inc.) respectively. Also, giants like Denton Pharma Inc.and Mylan Pharmaceuticals have also started recalling all of its unexpired ranitidine tablets plus nizatidine capsules respectively.

All of these companies referred to NDMA as impurities in the pills as key reason for recalls, however have even claimed for no adverse health effects reported until now due to these medicines. In addition, patients are still being advised to stop taking these medications immediately. Nevertheless, a number of other common drugs used for heartburn & ulcer drugs are still approved by the regulatory bodies that include Tagamet (cimetidine), Pepcid (famotidine), Nexium (esomeprazole, Prilosec (omeprazole) and Prevacid (lansoprazole).