Ranbaxy recalls 7.3 cr Gabapentin tablets

In a setback to pharmaceutical major Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, the US drug regulator USFDA has directed the company to recall as many as 7.32 crore (73.2 million) Gabapentin tablets of 600 and 800 mg strengths.

In a statement on its website, US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) said that the product (Gabapentin) exceeds the prescribed impurity specifications.

USFDA said the company has already initiated a recall of 7.32 crore tablets of 600 and 800 mg strengths in 100 and 500 tablet bottles which is ongoing.

A Ranbaxy Laboratories spokesperson said: "Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals is carrying out a voluntary recall of all lots of its 600 mg and 800 mg Gabapentin tablets at the retail level as it found the presence of related substances permitted in the products to be outside the approved limit."

Gabapentin tablets are prescribed to treat pain in the nerves. Last year, the USFDA had pulled up the company for not complying with its current good manufacturing practice regulations.