Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has initiated a voluntarily recall of over half-a-million bottles of Famotidine tablets from the US market as the drug failed impurities or degradation specifications.

According to a USFDA notification, the recall is being made under ’Class-III’ classification, which is described as "a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences''.

“Failed impurities/degradation specifications: Famotodine has an out of specification result for an individual related substance observed during routine stability testing of a batch for related substances — impurity 8 at 24 month stability interval,” the notification said on the reasons for recall.

As many as 5,69,376 bottles of Famotidine tablets, 10 mg belonging to multiple lots packaged in 30-count, are being recalled nationwide. The drug is an over-the-counter (OTC) product used to treat and prevent ulcers in stomach and intestines.