Common heartburn drug recalled over cancer links
A COMMON heartburn drug has been recalled over fears it could contain a chemical linked to cancer.
Pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline last night announced that four types of prescription-only Zantac medication were being recalled.
However, over-the-counter Zantac products made by different companies are not affected. It is feared some pills may contain traces of ND MA( N-nitrosodi methyl a mine )– a chemical considered to be cancer-forming to humans.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which polices the safety of drugs in the UK, issued the alert. Officials said they are still investigating the safety of other medicines containing ranitidine, which is the key ingredient in Zantac.
NHS figures show almost six million prescriptions were given out for drugs containing ranitidine in England last year.
Dr Andrew Gray, of the MHRA, said: ‘Whilst this action is precautionary, the MHRA takes patient safety very seriously.
‘Patients should keep taking their current medicines but should speak to their doctor or pharmacist if they are concerned and seek their doctor’s advice before stopping any prescribed medicines.
‘We have asked companies to quarantine batch es of potentially affected medicines whilst we investigate and we will take action as necessary. We have also requested risk assessments from the relevant companies which will include the testing of potentially affected batches.
‘Currently there is no evidence that medicines containing nitrosamines have caused any harm to patients, but the agency is closely monitoring the situation and working with other regulatory agencies around world.’
The alert comes after the US Food and Drug Administration discovered some batches of ranitidine pills contained trace amounts of NDMA a month ago.
Its announcement sparked an investigation into the safety of ranitidine by the European Medicines Agency. Irish health officials recalled 13 products containing ranitidine last month.
The Irish equivalent to the MHRA – the Health Products Regulatory Authority – said the fault comes from a manufacturing plant in India. US retailer CVS also pulled Zantac as well as some generic versions from its shelves after officials found some pills with traces of NDMA.
Zantac is not the first medication to be recalled in the UK over NDMA fears.
The MHRA has withdrawn a series of heart drugs in the last year after tests revealed some batches contained it or a similar chemical.
The Food and Drug Administration was the first to discover some batches of ranitidine pills with NDMA. Ireland and France have since acted by withdrawing stocks of ranitidine.
‘Keep taking your medicines’