Rajasthan orders immediate recall of 7 substandard medicines

Jaipur: The state health department has ordered an immediate halt to the sale, distribution and use of seven medicines after laboratory testing found them to be substandard, triggering a major regulatory response over drugs commonly used for infections, cough, inflammation and parasitic diseases.

The commissionerate of food safety and drugs control on Wednesday directed all drugs control officers across the state to act on alert. State Drug Controller Ajay Phatak said instructions have been issued to ensure these medicines are no longer consumed and that consumer safety is protected by withdrawing available stock from the market.

The medicines named in the stop-use order include Cefixime Oral Suspension IP sold as Loraxim dry syrup 12g/30 ml, expiring in Oct 2026, manufactured by Lark Laboratories, Alwar; and Albendazole tablets, expiring June 2027, made by Affy Parenterals, Himachal Pradesh. Cefixime is prescribed for bacterial infections such as bronchitis, throat, ear and urinary tract infections, while Albendazole is used to treat worm infestations and serious parasitic conditions.

Ambroxol hydrochloride, Levosalbutamol and Guaifenesin drops sold as Istocuf-LS, expiring June 2027, manufactured by Digital Vision, Himachal Pradesh, were also among the flagged drugs. The department stopped Methylprednisolone tablets 4 mg sold as Methyloactive-4, expiring June 2027, manufactured by United Bioceuticals Pvt Ltd, Delhi.

Other products include Dextromethorphan HBr and Chlorpheniramine maleate syrup sold as Okuff-DX, expiring Nov 2026, manufactured by Taksa Lifesciences Pvt Ltd, Delhi; Cefuroxime Axetil tablets IP sold as Extensive-500, expiring Feb 2028, manufactured by VADSP Pharmaceuticals, Himachal Pradesh; and Ciprofloxacin tablets 500 mg, expiring April 2028, manufactured by Omega Pharma, Uttarakhand.

The action is significant because poor-quality medicines can cause treatment failure, prolonged illness and rising antimicrobial resistance.