The Ministry of Health and Community Protection asked the manufacturers of Metformin Drugs to submit a full analysis report of the active substance and the final product in these drugs within 6 months, provided that the analysis be carried out in any accredited laboratory with following the recommended method of analysis from the Food and Drug Administration.
In a recent circular, the ministry said that there is a possibility of "NDMA" impurities in metformin drugs, which are prescription drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes.
The circular clarified that international health authorities are aware that some regulatory bodies have detected low levels of "NDMA" in a small number of metformin products.
The circular indicated that NDMA is usually found at low levels in a variety of foods and some drinking water and polluted air, but long-term exposure to this substance over many years can increase an individual's risk of cancer.
The Ministry confirmed that this product is registered with its drug administration, and recommended patients not to stop taking metformin medication unless under the supervision of a doctor, and health care practitioners should continue to prescribe these medications until new information arrives.