JFDA withdraws Zantac from pharmacies over carcinogen fears

AMMAN — Zantac, a medicine used as an anti-acid and to treat ulcers, has recently been withdrawn from pharmacies, according to the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA).

The JFDA withdrew the drug, prescribed in tablet form and as an injection, in response to a circulation by global health institutions about small quantities of the contaminant N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), detected in the medicine, according to a JFDA statement made available to The Jordan Times.

Zantac, also known as Ranitidine and registered in other companies under various commercial names, was officially withdrawn from the market in September, the statement said.

NDMA is a contaminant that exists in water and different foods, the statement said, adding that lab testing has shown that it may be carcinogenic. 

The JFDA noted that it has also suspended the registration of other similar medicines “until a proper investigation is made into the matter”, according to the statement. 

The Zantac tablet drug has not been imported to Jordan since 2015, the statement said. The JFDA will also work on withdrawing any remaining quantities that could possibly be in the market. 

In a circulation the JFDA issued to several involved medical institutions, a copy of which was shared with The Jordan Times, the administration held up the registration of the following: Nadine tablet, Ranidine tablet and syrup, Peptac tablet, Peptacid effervescent tablet, Rolan injection, Ranacid tablet, Zantac tablet and injection, Zidan injection, Epadoren injection and syrup and Ranitidine injection.

The JFDA urged the public to report any side effects of medicines and drugs either through www.jfda.jo or the Jordan FDA application, under the "side effects" tab.