A painkiller for every ache? CDSCO flags 220 drugs and warns of kidney risks

CDSCO has flagged 220 drug samples as not of standard quality and one as spurious, while separately warning that indiscriminate use of painkillers and antibiotics can increase the risk of kidney complications and antimicrobial resistance.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued two significant drug-safety warnings: its August surveillance exercise identified 220 samples as not of standard quality (NSQ) and one as spurious, while a separate advisory urged people not to use painkillers and antibiotics indiscriminately because prolonged or inappropriate use can increase the risk of renal complications.

In its August drug surveillance exercise, the regulator identified 220 samples as not of standard quality (NSQ) and one spurious drug sample. The NSQ findings included 29 samples identified by central drug laboratories and 191 detected by state drug-testing laboratories. The spurious sample was identified in Delhi and is under investigation, according to the regulator.

The findings do not mean that every product from a particular medicine category is unsafe. CDSCO has clarified that an NSQ finding relates to the specific batch tested, and does not automatically indicate a problem with different batches of the same medicine.

At the same time, CDSCO has issued a separate advisory on the indiscriminate use of painkillers and antibiotics, warning about avoidable adverse drug reactions, renal complications, chronic kidney disease and antimicrobial resistance. The circular was issued on September 22, 2026.

Why CDSCO is warning about painkillers and antibiotics

The advisory focuses particularly on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), commonly used as painkillers, and antibiotics.

CDSCO said these medicines should not be taken repeatedly or for prolonged periods without medical advice. People with existing kidney disease or other risk factors for impaired kidney function have been specifically advised to inform their healthcare professionals before using NSAIDs.

The regulator has recommended that NSAIDs be prescribed at the lowest effective dose for the shortest appropriate duration, particularly for patients at increased risk of renal impairment.

CDSCO also warned against using antibiotics for self-medication, including for conditions where antibiotics are not clinically indicated, such as most uncomplicated viral infections.

Patients who are prescribed antibiotics should follow the healthcare professional's instructions rather than sharing medicines with others or using leftover antibiotics.

What CDSCO told doctors

Healthcare professionals have been advised to consider a patient's clinical condition, age, co-morbidities, other medicines and relevant risk factors before prescribing NSAIDs or antibiotics.

For antibiotics, CDSCO called for judicious prescribing based on factors including the likely causative organism, the location and severity of the infection, relevant microbiological investigations where appropriate, and local susceptibility patterns.

The regulator also said unnecessary combinations, inappropriate antibiotic selection, incorrect dosing and unnecessarily long treatment durations should be avoided.

What pharmacies and hospitals have been told

Pharmacists, retailers and distributors have been asked to comply with the statutory requirements governing the sale of prescription medicines, including Schedule H and H1 drugs.

CDSCO said pharmacists and retailers should not encourage or facilitate self-medication with antibiotics or prescription-only NSAIDs.

Hospitals and healthcare institutions have also been advised to strengthen prescription review, monitoring and patient counselling, while promoting antimicrobial stewardship.

What the 220 NSQ findings mean

NSQ medicines are products that fail to meet specified quality standards or specifications during regulatory testing. Such findings can relate to parameters including quality, labelling, dissolution, weight uniformity or sterility, depending on the medicine and test involved.

CDSCO's routine surveillance involves collecting drug samples from sales and distribution points and testing them through government laboratories. The regulator publishes alerts to inform stakeholders about products and batches found to have quality deficiencies.

The one spurious sample identified in Delhi was reportedly manufactured by an unauthorised manufacturer using another company's brand name. CDSCO said the matter remains under investigation and that action will be taken under the applicable Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules.

What this means for medicine users

The two CDSCO actions highlight different aspects of medicine safety.

The NSQ findings concern the quality of specific drug samples and batches identified through laboratory testing, while the kidney advisory concerns the inappropriate or indiscriminate use of certain medicines. They should not be treated as the same regulatory finding.

For consumers, CDSCO's message is to avoid self-medicating with prescription medicines, particularly antibiotics and NSAIDs, and to seek medical advice when symptoms persist or recur.

The regulator's latest circular also links responsible antibiotic use to the broader effort to limit antimicrobial resistance, while careful NSAID use is particularly important for people vulnerable to kidney impairment.

The latest actions show that drug safety involves both what is in the medicine supply chain and how medicines are used.

The August surveillance findings are part of CDSCO's continuing regulatory testing programme, which is designed to identify NSQ and spurious products and facilitate appropriate action. The kidney advisory, meanwhile, addresses behaviour across the healthcare system, from prescribing and dispensing to patient self-medication.

The distinction is important: the identification of 220 NSQ samples does not mean that 220 medicines have been declared dangerous for causing kidney disease. Separately, CDSCO is warning that inappropriate use of NSAIDs and antibiotics can create avoidable health risks.

Together, the measures underline the regulator's emphasis on medicine quality, prescription compliance, rational drug use and antimicrobial stewardship.