All pharmaceutical preparations containing metformin available in Qatar are safe for human consumption and free of any harmful substance, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) Tuesday said.
The ministry said that the results of laboratory analysis conducted on samples of all pharmaceutical preparations containing metformin available in the public and private sectors in Qatar have proven to be safe and free from the N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).
Metformin is a drug used to treat diabetes and its trade name is registered as Glucophage, while NDMA is present in nature but in small and safe proportions.
The ministry said it continues to take samples and conducts the necessary analysis in the drug control laboratories affiliated with the Ministry for all pharmaceutical preparations that contain metformin that come to Qatar, as well as continuous communication with international organisations and regulatory bodies in this regard.
"This comes in the framework of the continuous follow-up by the MoPH from what is issued by international organisations and regulatory bodies, as well as after receiving information from the American Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency stating that initial analysis of drugs containing metformin revealed that some of these drugs contain the NDMA substance at higher levels than the permitted rates, and that this substance is considered among the potentially carcinogenic substances."
The MoPH recommended that patients with diabetes continue to use these preparations and not to drop them, as well as to continue to monitor their health with doctors and healthcare providers.
Metformin is a drug used to treat diabetes and its trade name is registered as Glucophage, while NDMA is present in nature but in small and safe proportions.
The ministry said it continues to take samples and conducts the necessary analysis in the drug control laboratories affiliated with the Ministry for all pharmaceutical preparations that contain metformin that come to Qatar, as well as continuous communication with international organisations and regulatory bodies in this regard.
"This comes in the framework of the continuous follow-up by the MoPH from what is issued by international organisations and regulatory bodies, as well as after receiving information from the American Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency stating that initial analysis of drugs containing metformin revealed that some of these drugs contain the NDMA substance at higher levels than the permitted rates, and that this substance is considered among the potentially carcinogenic substances."
The MoPH recommended that patients with diabetes continue to use these preparations and not to drop them, as well as to continue to monitor their health with doctors and healthcare providers.
