Ranitidine - recalled by NHS

[ALC1985]

I have been prescribed Ranitidine for heartburn by my GP, I have been taking 1, sometimes 2 a day, from about late March/early April.
Last night I was googling a symptom of the tablets and seen they have been recalled all over the world, including the UK and the NHS website clearly states theyve been recalled. I spoke to a friend who is a GP today who confirmed my findings and said her practice havent been prescribing them for months due to safety concerns. (They contain a cancerogenic ).
I've not taken any more and plan on phoning my GP tomorrow.
Just wanted to warn others and see if anyone else has received further guidance/ has any additional knowledge on this issue?

there may be a possible carcinogen in some. I remember them being recalled a while ago as I used to sporadically take them for acid indigestion. Did they suggest an alternative?

'Cancerogenic' As a linguist this appeals to me.

@RoLaren

'Cancerogenic' As a linguist this appeals to me.

It's 'carcinogenic'

Ranitidine has been unavailable in the U.K. for a while, you might be offered omeprazole as an alternative in pregnancy

The point of the post wasnt my incorrect spelling or mocking of my spelling.
I was prescribed Ranitidine in March/April (when pregnant) so I'm warning others that as much as it shouldn't be available, some GPS and pharmacy's are prescribing it.
As stated I will be phoning my GP tomorrow to discuss this, perhaps there's a reason why I've been prescribed it very recently?

I'm surprised there were any stocks left as I've not seen it on the shelves for months

demenetedpixie that sort of makes sense now as when I got prescribed them my gp told me to go to another chemist as my usual pharmacy didn't have any stock, I just assumed it was due to folk stock piling medicines during the early stages of covid, ill phone tomorrow to see if it is safe and if not if there is an alternative.

I was almost prescribed this as a pregnancy safe alternative to lansoprazole which I have to take daily for life. Ended up with omeprazole instead.

OP I absolutely wasn't mocking you and I'm sorry you took my comment in that way. Peace out.

Perhaps it’s been replaced by a different o gradient and the new batches are ok now?
Chemist will know.

I would speak to a chemist first, as they will be easier to get hold of than your GP. When I had concerns about taking some of my medication during pregnancy, my local chemist was able to reassure me. They did advise that I discuss my concerns with my GP, but I had to wait a while for an appointment so it made sense to speak to the chemist first. They were fantastic and so knowledgeable. I definitely think you should speak to your GP, but a chemist will be able to alleviate any worries you may have until you can get an appointment.

Good advice re speaking to a pharmacist first, ill head down tomorrow, i live in a small village so the 2 pharmacies are shut today. I'm hoping they've made an ammendment/changed the ingredients and they are now safe!

Or if there is a larger one in the next town that’s open now you could ring them and see if the pharmacist is available to answer your ranitidine question?

Hi! UK pharmacist here - so certain manufacturing brands of ranitidine have been withdrawn due to possible contamination with an impurity N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) which has genotoxic and carcinogenic potential. The brand that was withdrawn from all pharmacies back in December was Zantac and Medley, then in February it was Medreich. What usually happens when one brand of a medication is recalled a lot of other brands are over ordered by hospitals and pharmacies and therefore are out of stock or are put on hold. If you have been getting Ranitidine throughout this time then the brand you have been given is more than likely not one of the ones I’ve listed and hasn’t been found to have any carcinogen within it. Hope this helps :)

Check the brand you have and whether its part of the recall. I thought they'd practically all been withdrawn from sale

Oh gosh Alychloe I do hope this is the case because I have struggled without Ranitadine but none of our pharmacies stock it any more at all. My GP agreed to prescribe a replacement Famotidine but it's been out of stock for weeks. I take it as an H2 blocker not for gastric problems.

@ScrapThatThen yes it happens often! It’s also because of pricing of other brands is too high for pharmacies to order in. Famotidine has been on limited stock since November and is also extremely hard to get hold of! You could try Cimetidine which I believe is currently in stock :)

Alychloe thanks so much for your message! I'm hoping that since it got through a GP and the pharmacist that it's a "safe" version!

Thank you!

@ALC1985 what was the feedback from your GP?

God I took Zantac daily for the first 20 weeks of my first pregnancy in 2018. GP said it was fine. Should I be worried?

@BuffaloMozzerella
I don’t think you should be concerned. I contacted the EMA about this as there was nothing on the MHRA website. They said they calculate the risk across a lifetime exposure and the 8 weeks I mentioned I had taken this medication for would t usually raise any concerns. I’m sure they would say the same for you

Thank you for replying @Igglepiggle3 - that's reassuring to hear.