To tell you all with reflux babies/children ranitidine or Zantac has been recalled over carcinogens

[steppenmum]

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/oct/09/zantac-in-global-recall-over-unacceptable-levels-of-potential-carcinogen?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

Is anyone else really concerned about this? I am so worried, I have this medicene in the syrup form to my baby x

www.gov.uk/government/news/zantac-mhra-drug-alert-issued-as-glaxosmithkline-recalls-all-unexpired-stock
This is from the government and links to the alert from the MHRA (the drugs regulator in the uk). They have said patients don’t need to stop taking their medication.

No it hasn’t it’s specific contaminated batches. The drug itself is perfectly safe.

This was in the news about a month ago, with the concomitant hysteria and scaremongering by the redtops.

The gov link clarifies I think

GSK have had affected batches in Switzerland and singapore.
As well as US finding NDMA in some batches there.
Where do we think UK stock is produced? Xx

God knows, drug supply and manufacture chains can be complex. I’d just go with the MHRA advice.

Just very odd recalls are happening all over the world, by different manufacturers (Sanofi, GSK) which makes me think there is an issue with the raw ingredient. Maybe these companies sourced from the same supplier.
Same issue with the blood pressure tablets last year - were people told to continue taking them whilst the tests were done?

Other ranitidine products are still available in both the UK and US because neither country has issued formal recalls of the entire drug supply, instead they have just issued alerts about drastic moves made by firms such as GSK.

And finally;
Other ranitidine products are still available in both the UK and US because neither country has issued formal recalls of the entire drug supply, instead they have just issued alerts about drastic moves made by firms such as GSK.

I'm be OTC Zantac is still available because it's a different manufacturing process. The carcinogen was introduced due to a manufacturing process change that wasn't properly vetted and does effect the syrup which is what would be given to infants. GSK didn't even find it themselves. It's not exactly confidence boosting is it! I poured litres of the stuff down DS1. It's terrifying.

I suffer from anxiety so this issue is playing havoc with me!
The only way I can try and rationalise it in my head is the outcome from the NDMA they found in the blood pressure tablets.
The findings were that one person in 8,000 may develop cancer if they took the strongest dose for 4 years.
I just hope the NDMA found is not greater found in that of the blood pressure tablets.
@steppenmum the tablets recalled in the states are from a different manufacturer (Sandoz and apotex) the Zantac in the US is produced by sanofi. So this issue is affecting all different manufacturers???? It sounds too suspect to me...
Also, so far a lot of the reports talk about pills which would have a totally different manufacturing process to liquid.
The FDA have started to test some of the solutions.
To me, if all formats are affects (pills and liquid) from different suppliers globally then it must be the drug itself or the supplier who is selling the active ingredient to these companies (ie GSK).

I know this thread is a few days old but I’m also concerned about this. And bloody frustrated as I have one of my DC this drug with huge guilt at the time but was told it was safe.

It seems it’s only the Glaxo ranitidine just now and they are testing the other manufacturers’ syrups. My bet is that cheaper manufacturing will have resulted in this being across the board. Who knows how long it’s gone on for? What else is it in?

I think my DC had the generic ranitidine and that if could have have been supplied by any number of suppliers so we will have to wait for more info.

No wonder these is a global loss of faith in pharmaceuticals.

It's only a concern in specific batches, which don't seem to apply to infant doses.
Additionally, it's mainly an issue with long term use over years, which again would not apply to most infant use.

If you read the Valisure petition to the FDA, it gives a lot more info. In a nutshell, they found that the molecules making up ranitidine are inherently unstable and especially so in the human body. The NDMA is therefore made as the drug lies around or once it is ingested. Previous tests by the US FDA and other government regulators have missed the NDMA due to not replicating this in tests. Even more worrying is that studies have shown for years that NDMA is excreted in urine in high amounts in people taking ranitidine and contaminate water.

I feel very angry and sad - my DC took this for months. Some people take this longer term.

There is nothing at of us can now do to undo harm but no wonder “big pharma” is no longer trusted. They produce drugs, and get to test them themselves and outsource their production and the whole thing is a snake fest.

And we are talking about millions of nanograms. Far higher than the blood pressure medicines. It is outrageous.

I wish I hadn't read this. DS took this for around 18 months as he had severe silent reflux. I can't change it now :(

All you need to do is call pharmacy and check your perscription. Mine was unaffected.

That’s simply not true. There is an inherent issue with the molecules of the drug. Read the Valisure statement. This has gone on for decades (which is good in a way as it is more reassuring)

@Stuckinanutshell sorry to say but that’s true. Just because it hasn’t been recalled doesn’t mean there is an issue. Mine had a generic version and Zantac. The generic hasn’t been recalled but the Zantac has by GSK x