KUWAIT: The ministry of health is suspending and withdrawing ranitidine medicines - namely Zantac - used to treat excessive stomach acid. Dr Abdullah Al-Badr, the assistant undersecretary for medicine and food supervision at the health ministry, said in a statement yesterday that the decision to pull these drugs from the market was made upon preliminary tests conducted at the department's laboratories and reports by American and European authorities. Health authorities in other countries are currently trying to determine safe levels of the ingredient N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), included in food and some medical drugs, he said. He urged patients to seek their doctors' help in prescribing alternative medicines. - KUNA