March 2020

Safety Alert: Ranitidine Drug Recall

Ranitidine is available as an over the counter (OTC) and prescription drug. OTC ranitidine tablets are commonly used to relieve heartburn due to acid indigestion and sour stomach. Prescription ranitidine products are often prescribed to treat conditions linked to acid reflux disease and ulcers.

Since late September 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been alerting patients and health care professionals of several manufacturers’ voluntary nationwide recalls of ranitidine medications. If you have patients who are taking these medications, please consider contacting them to discuss treatment options. Multiple drugs are FDA-approved for the same or similar uses as ranitidine. 

For more information, including the current list of affected products, refer to the drug recalls page on the FDA website.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician. Physicians are to exercise their own medical judgment. The listing of any particular drug or classification of drugs is not a guarantee of benefits. Members should refer to their certificate of coverage for more details, including benefits, limitations and exclusions. Regardless of benefits, the final decision about any medication is between the member and their health care provider.