translated from Spanish: Cancel ranitidine distribution for containing carcinogenic substance

It was the Novartis pharmaceutical laboratory one of the first to follow the recommendations of the FDA (Us Food and Drug Administration), and the European Medicines Agency, institutions that found that some product of raditinine contained NDMA, a substance classified as a possible human carcinogen. In this sense, the pharmacist halted the distribution of all ranitidine drugs manufactured by Sandoz, as a “precautionary” before the agencies. It should be noted that ranitidine is a histamine-2 blocker that is used to relieve heartburn and treat ulcers, gastric reflux, lesions in the esophagus, among others. At the moment there is still no certainty as to the possible risk of the presence – in relation to its proportions – of NDMA in this drug, since the FDA is still evaluating the drug, and will report as soon as it has categorical results. In this line Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Drug Evaluation and Research Center, noted that “Preliminary tests found low levels of NDMA that slightly equal or exceed the amounts found in foods such as meat cured and grilled.” While intake of the drug has not yet been banned, it is suggested that patients taking the prescription versions of the drug talk to their doctors about other treatment options, and people taking the over-the-counter version may consider other medications previously approved.

Original source in Spanish