KATHMANDU, Oct 16: Ranitidine, a commonly prescribed medicine for gastritis, has been found to contain nitro sodomithylamine, a carcinogen. The Department of Drugs Administration (DDA) has directed pharma companies and importers not to import medicines that contain this element.

DDA Director General Pan Bahadur Chhetri, said, “We should create awareness that ranitidine consists of Nitro-simon impurities and small amount of nitro sodomithylamine which poses a possible threat of triggering cancer.”

The DDA in a statement on Monday said that a major health advisory has been issued in the wake of the International Agency for Research of Cancer categorizing the medicine as a carcinogen. Bangladesh banned ranitidine recently.