Two pharmaceutical companies have recalled their brands of rantidine, a drug that treats stomach ulcers, after the brands Xanidine and Aciloc, were found by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to carry carcinogenic properties.
"Patients should not go into panic mode, because the US FDA only detected low levels of carcinogenic impurities," said Surachok Tangwiwat, deputy secretary-general of Thai FDA.
However, his agency has asked the firms, based in Bangkok and India, to recall the medicines. The owners of the recalled brands said patients can now return the medicine to the companies.
The ingredients used to produce ranitidine under the brands were supplied by Indian manufacturers, Dr Surachok said.
Xanidine and Aciloc are among eight brands which were recalled earlier in Singapore.
The US FDA found a carcinogen named nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, in ranitidine, which is used to cure peptic ulcers and ulcers in the first part of the small intestine.
Other brands are Zantac, Zynol, Vesyca, Neocepttin R-150, Hyzan and Apo-Ranitidine.
The recall in Singapore was conducted as "precautionary measure", Dr Surachok added.
In Thailand, there are a total of 34 registrations of ranitidine-based formulas, 23 of which are produced domestically, he said.
Dr Surachok said patients who need to take ranitidine should not be worried about the move.
Usually, the medicine is prescribed for treatment in the short term, so they are not at high risk of suffering any adverse health impact as a result, he said.