Pharmacies confirmed that there were two "defective" batches of "metformin"
"Health": Medicines for treating diabetes in the country are safe
Dr. Amin Al-Amiri: "There is no need for patients to stop taking (metformin) drugs, unless under the supervision of a doctor."
The Ministry of Health and Prevention confirmed that diabetes medicines containing "metformin" are safe in the country.
The Ministry announced that it would take the necessary measures to ensure that state pharmacies are free from the two batches of the drug "Metformin HCl Extended Release Tablets, USP 500 mg" produced by Nostrum Laboratories, based on a circular issued by the US Food and Drug Administration, following Receives a notification from the manufacturer, which has voluntarily withdrawn both runs, stating that there is a proven NDMA contamination.
She confirmed that the drug is not registered in the UAE, nor has it entered the country, according to the official import system.
She explained that NDMA is usually found in a variety of foods, some drinking water, and in polluted air, but at low levels, indicating that exposure to a large amount of this substance for a long period of time increases the risk of cancer.
There are also many medicines that contain the active ingredient "metformin", which are prescription drugs that have a number of uses, the most common of which is the treatment of type II diabetes. They are healthy and do not have any warnings.
The Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing Sector, Dr. Amin Hussein Al-Amiri, stressed the need for patients not to stop taking "metformin" drugs except under the supervision of a doctor, and for doctors to continue prescribing metformin drugs as usual, until new information arrives from the ministry.
He said that all Metformin products in the country are free from NDMA impurities, noting that the ministry issued a circular, earlier, to pharmaceutical companies producing metformin drugs to provide a complete analysis report of the active substance and the final product, provided that the analysis is done in an accredited laboratory. While ensuring that you follow the FDA's recommended method of analysis for NDMA analysis, and in accordance with the minimum acceptable daily intake.
The circular asked suppliers of Metformin products to present a certificate of analysis proving that their products are free of NDMA impurities, before importing them from abroad.
Al-Amiri stated that the Ministry is constantly aware of the circulars, warnings and developments issued by the global health authorities.
In the event that any warning related to medicines is issued, the Ministry shall immediately issue a circular to the health authorities and concerned, in the event that there is a need to withdraw these products and destroy them, in order to preserve the health and safety of society.
In the event of side effects resulting from the use of the product, you can contact the Ministry via e-mail: pv@mohap.gov.ae or report negative effects through the electronic system on its website, or through the UAE RADR smart application.
The public can also view the circulars issued through the ministry’s website.
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