DCCA supports recall on Ranitidine medication

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) is again advising consumers not to use Ranitidine medication following its previous recall of October 2019.

This comes against the backdrop that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States of America (USA) has recalled all medications manufactured with ranitidine said to have been possibly contaminated with the chemical Nnitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).

Ranitidine is a drug widely used to treat and prevent heartburn and other stomach-related issues. This is the latest step in an ongoing investigation of the contaminant NDMA in ranitidine medications, commonly known by the brand name Zantac. NDMA is classified as a “probable human carcinogen”. A carcinogen is defined as a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue.

As the agency under the Ministry of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce charged with the protection of consumers, the DCCA supports this recall and is therefore advising all consumers not to use any of this medication and to contact their physician by phone.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on April 1, 2020 that it was requesting manufacturers to withdraw all prescription and over-the-counter ranitidine drugs from the market immediately.

The agency has determined that the impurity in some ranitidine products increases over time and when stored at higher than room temperatures may result in consumer exposure to unacceptable levels of this impurity.

Additional information on the recall can be found at:

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-requests-removal-all-ranitidine-products-zantac-market?utm_campaign=%2B%20Health&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_iDYQ0j9UO-xbhm8QDERBn6BgAb50ffS47R6inOd68ZMf142JH8ko49DAl5C8tSl4FECBrKcq6PUe0UBfrg83QeKo-AKAS5Kf2rWxJ84OrhjfqsGQ&_hsmi=86416086&utm_source=hs_email&utm_content=86414134&hsCtaTracking=f438e2cc-806c-490d-b259-5ba2d1105f3f%7Ce5ff86d4-5b9d-421f-bb5c-60051473cbca.

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is, therefore, advising all consumers in Barbados, that if they possess any of these products, to act responsibly and immediately contact their doctor by phone before discontinuing use.

Moreover, in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic the DCCA is urging patients and consumers to take the affected product back to the pharmacy during their next visit for proper disposal.

For further information, persons may contact the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs at 535-7000, 535-7003, 535-7005 or commerce.ca@barbados.gov.bb. (DCCA/JG/BGIS)