We have recently written to all patients currently prescribed ranitidine to inform them of a recent alert regarding their prescription for the drug. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has requested that all patients currently prescribed ranitidine are reviewed by their GP as soon as possible.
The reason for this is that a precautionary measure to quarantine the majority of supplies of ranitidine at manufacturer level has been implemented whilst the products are investigated by the MHRA.
What does this mean for patients?
St Lawrence Surgery is asking all patients prescribed ranitidine to please book a telephone appointment with a GP for a review. Whilst we ask patients to continue with their medication until the review, it may be that some patients no longer need acid suppressant medication, or could perhaps be switched to an alternative medicine such as omeprazole, lansoprazole or Gaviscon. Attending the surgery for this review is not necessary.
Patients are being asked to book this review only when their next prescription is required, and in the meantime, to not stop taking their medication as we have not been advised by the MHRA that we need to recall medicines directly from patients.
Useful NHS Choices resources are available below:
