A supply notification issued by the Department of Health and Social Care (DH) last week (May 7), indicated that ranitidine 50mg/2ml injection is “anticipated to be unavailable from the end of May 2020 until further notice”.

Ranitidine film-coated tablets, effervescent tablets and oral solution “continue to remain unavailable with no date for resupply,” according to the notice.

Last month (April 30), the European Medicines Agency (EMA)'s human medicines committee recommended the suspension of all ranitidine formulas due to the presence of low levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a risk factor for some cancers.

A Medicines and Healthcare products Regulator Agency (MHRA) spokesperson said this concludes the investigation into the medicine, and directed pharmacists towards DH advice on switching patients to alternatives.

The drug was subject to recall and quarantine last October, although the MHRA stressed at the time that there was “no evidence that medicines containing nitrosamines have caused any harm to patients”.

Concerned about how your patients will be affected by the ranitidine recall? Read C+D's CPD article to refresh your knowledge of assessing and advising patients who take this medication.