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CDSCO warns of kidney disease risks from painkiller and antibiotic misuse
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued a safety advisory warning against the indiscriminate and prolonged use of painkillers, specifically Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), and antibiotics. The regulator highlighted that improper use of these medications increases the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), renal impairment, and antimicrobial resistance.
The advisory, issued via the Directorate General of Health Services, emphasizes that these drugs should only be used when clinically indicated, at appropriate doses, and under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner. Most NSAIDs and antibiotics are classified under Schedules H and H1 of the Drugs Rules, 1945, which legally mandate that they cannot be sold by retail without a prescription.
In a separate regulatory update, the CDSCO reported findings from its August 2026 surveillance exercise. The agency identified 220 drug samples as Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) and one spurious drug sample in Delhi. The spurious sample was allegedly produced by unauthorized manufacturers using a brand name belonging to another company and is currently under investigation.
Entities
Central Drugs Laboratories · Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation · Delhi · Directorate General of Health Services · Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi · India · State Drugs Testing Laboratories
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The CDSCO identified 220 drug samples as Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) during August 2026 surveillance.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Central Drugs Laboratories identified 29 NSQ samples, while State Drugs Testing Laboratories identified 191 NSQ samples.
- [● 2 SOURCES] One spurious drug sample was identified in Delhi, allegedly manufactured by unauthorized parties using a brand name owned by another company.