Browse by ingredient
Medicine ingredients A to Z
Last checked 3 November 2026. Built from CDSCO's banned-drugs notifications and monthly NSQ alerts
Look up the active ingredient printed on the pack, not the brand. Each page lists the combinations containing it that are banned, restricted or stayed in India, and the batches that failed a government lab test.
Most often in the lab alerts
Paracetamol · 548 batchesVitamin D3 · 269 batchesAmoxicillin · 228 batchesTelmisartan · 213 batchesPantoprazole · 201 batchesFolic acid · 197 batchesGuaifenesin · 182 batchesClavulanic acid · 178 batchesAmbroxol · 178 batchesRabeprazole · 171 batchesLevocetirizine · 149 batchesDomperidone · 142 batches
A
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aceclofenac | Painkiller (NSAID) | 11 | 127 |
| Albendazole | Deworming medicine | 0 | 129 |
| Alprazolam | Anti-anxiety medicine (benzodiazepine) | 2 | 18 |
| Ambroxol | Mucus thinner for cough | 62 | 178 |
| Amikacin | Antibiotic injection (aminoglycoside) | 0 | 30 |
| Amitriptyline | Antidepressant, also used for nerve pain | 0 | 14 |
| Amlodipine | Blood pressure medicine (calcium channel blocker) | 0 | 81 |
| Ammonium chloride | Expectorant in cough syrups | 50 | 12 |
| Amoxicillin | Antibiotic (penicillin group) | 16 | 228 |
| Ampicillin | Antibiotic (penicillin group) | 0 | 15 |
| Aspirin | Painkiller and blood thinner | 5 | 76 |
| Atenolol | Blood pressure and heart medicine (beta blocker) | 0 | 25 |
| Atorvastatin | Cholesterol-lowering statin | 7 | 60 |
| Azithromycin | Antibiotic (macrolide) | 19 | 56 |
B
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beclomethasone | Steroid in inhalers and skin creams | 17 | 5 |
| Betamethasone | Steroid, often in skin creams | 14 | 31 |
| Bisacodyl | Laxative | 0 | 19 |
| Bromhexine | Mucus thinner for cough | 68 | 39 |
| Bupivacaine | Local anaesthetic injection | 0 | 25 |
| Buprenorphine | Opioid used for pain and addiction treatment | 0 | 28 |
C
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caffeine | Stimulant added to pain and cold tablets | 59 | 22 |
| Cefalexin | Antibiotic (cephalosporin) | 3 | 3 |
| Cefixime | Antibiotic (cephalosporin) | 13 | 101 |
| Cefoperazone | Antibiotic injection (cephalosporin) | 0 | 10 |
| Cefpodoxime | Antibiotic (cephalosporin) | 4 | 55 |
| Ceftriaxone | Antibiotic injection (cephalosporin) | 1 | 33 |
| Cefuroxime | Antibiotic (cephalosporin) | 4 | 27 |
| Cetirizine | Antihistamine for allergy | 78 | 31 |
| Chloramphenicol | Antibiotic, often in eye and ear drops | 10 | 6 |
| Chlorhexidine | Antiseptic | 1 | 22 |
| Chlorpheniramine | Antihistamine in cold and allergy medicines | 133 | 122 |
| Chlorzoxazone | Muscle relaxant | 6 | 15 |
| Ciprofloxacin | Antibiotic (fluoroquinolone) | 7 | 83 |
| Clavulanic acid | Added to amoxicillin so bacteria cannot break it down | 3 | 178 |
| Clindamycin | Antibiotic | 5 | 6 |
| Clobetasol | Strong steroid skin cream | 16 | 16 |
| Clonazepam | Seizure and anxiety medicine (benzodiazepine) | 2 | 13 |
| Clopidogrel | Blood thinner (antiplatelet) | 2 | 57 |
| Clotrimazole | Antifungal cream and powder | 32 | 9 |
| Cloxacillin | Antibiotic (penicillin group) | 2 | 17 |
| Codeine | Opioid cough suppressant and painkiller | 15 | 7 |
| Cyproheptadine | Antihistamine, often sold as an appetite stimulant | 6 | 17 |
D
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dexamethasone | Steroid | 2 | 54 |
| Dextromethorphan | Cough suppressant | 111 | 63 |
| Dextrose | Glucose solution used in drips | 1 | 40 |
| Diclofenac | Painkiller (NSAID) | 40 | 134 |
| Dicyclomine | Antispasmodic for stomach cramps | 25 | 23 |
| Diphenhydramine | Antihistamine in cough syrups | 13 | 22 |
| Domperidone | Anti-nausea medicine | 16 | 142 |
| Doxycycline | Antibiotic (tetracycline group) | 10 | 28 |
| Drotaverine | Antispasmodic for stomach cramps | 4 | 12 |
E
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enalapril | Blood pressure medicine (ACE inhibitor) | 0 | 14 |
| Erythromycin | Antibiotic (macrolide) | 1 | 15 |
| Esomeprazole | Acid reducer (proton pump inhibitor) | 1 | 16 |
| Etofylline | Bronchodilator | 11 | 2 |
F
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Famotidine | Acid reducer (H2 blocker) | 12 | 1 |
| Fenofibrate | Lowers blood fats (triglycerides) | 0 | 8 |
| Fexofenadine | Antihistamine for allergy | 1 | 23 |
| Fluconazole | Antifungal | 5 | 10 |
| Folic acid | Vitamin B9, often combined with iron | 12 | 197 |
| Furosemide | Diuretic (water pill) | 0 | 23 |
G
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gabapentin | Nerve pain and seizure medicine | 2 | 21 |
| Gentamicin | Antibiotic (aminoglycoside) | 19 | 37 |
| Gliclazide | Diabetes medicine (sulfonylurea) | 13 | 4 |
| Glimepiride | Diabetes medicine (sulfonylurea) | 19 | 102 |
| Glipizide | Diabetes medicine (sulfonylurea) | 2 | 8 |
| Glucosamine | Joint supplement | 38 | 3 |
| Guaifenesin | Cough expectorant | 79 | 182 |
H
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heparin | Blood thinner given by injection | 2 | 26 |
| Hydrochlorothiazide | Diuretic for blood pressure | 5 | 14 |
I
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ibuprofen | Painkiller (NSAID) | 10 | 49 |
| Iron (ferrous and ferric salts) | Iron supplement for anaemia | 2 | 141 |
| Itraconazole | Antifungal | 0 | 42 |
| Ivermectin | Antiparasitic medicine | 0 | 33 |
K
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketoconazole | Antifungal, often in creams and shampoos | 11 | 22 |
L
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levetiracetam | Epilepsy medicine | 0 | 17 |
| Levocetirizine | Antihistamine for allergy | 42 | 149 |
| Levofloxacin | Antibiotic (fluoroquinolone) | 10 | 6 |
| Levosalbutamol | Bronchodilator for asthma | 0 | 69 |
| Levothyroxine | Thyroid hormone | 4 | 22 |
| Lignocaine (lidocaine) | Local anaesthetic | 24 | 14 |
| Linezolid | Antibiotic for resistant infections | 4 | 7 |
| Loperamide | Anti-diarrhoea medicine | 4 | 21 |
| Lorazepam | Anti-anxiety medicine (benzodiazepine) | 0 | 16 |
| Losartan | Blood pressure medicine (ARB) | 1 | 10 |
| Luliconazole | Antifungal cream | 0 | 8 |
M
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mefenamic acid | Painkiller (NSAID), often for period pain | 6 | 26 |
| Menthol | Cooling agent in cough, cold and pain products | 101 | 136 |
| Meropenem | Hospital antibiotic given by injection | 2 | 13 |
| Metformin | Diabetes medicine | 58 | 75 |
| Methylcobalamin (vitamin B12) | Form of vitamin B12 | 14 | 88 |
| Metoclopramide | Anti-nausea medicine | 1 | 8 |
| Metoprolol | Blood pressure and heart medicine (beta blocker) | 3 | 27 |
| Metronidazole | Anti-infective for gut, dental and other infections | 14 | 50 |
| Miconazole | Antifungal cream | 10 | 11 |
| Misoprostol | Used in childbirth, abortion and stomach ulcers | 0 | 19 |
| Montelukast | Asthma and allergy medicine | 4 | 110 |
| Mupirocin | Antibiotic ointment | 0 | 9 |
N
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naphazoline | Decongestant in eye and nose drops | 28 | 0 |
| Neomycin | Antibiotic used on skin and in the gut | 22 | 17 |
| Nifedipine | Blood pressure medicine (calcium channel blocker) | 0 | 10 |
| Nimesulide | Painkiller (NSAID) | 40 | 19 |
| Nitrazepam | Sleeping pill (benzodiazepine) | 0 | 10 |
| Norfloxacin | Antibiotic (fluoroquinolone) | 8 | 35 |
O
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofloxacin | Antibiotic (fluoroquinolone) | 37 | 104 |
| Olmesartan | Blood pressure medicine (ARB) | 2 | 12 |
| Omeprazole | Acid reducer (proton pump inhibitor) | 6 | 49 |
| Ondansetron | Anti-vomiting medicine | 2 | 54 |
| Oral rehydration salts (ORS) | Salts and glucose to treat dehydration | 1 | 22 |
| Ornidazole | Anti-infective for gut and amoebic infections | 19 | 67 |
| Oxytocin | Hormone used in childbirth | 0 | 21 |
P
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pantoprazole | Acid reducer (proton pump inhibitor) | 5 | 201 |
| Paracetamol | Painkiller and fever reducer | 207 | 548 |
| Phenylephrine | Nasal decongestant | 156 | 122 |
| Phenytoin | Epilepsy medicine | 2 | 14 |
| Pioglitazone | Diabetes medicine | 28 | 10 |
| Piperacillin | Hospital antibiotic given by injection | 0 | 9 |
| Povidone-iodine | Antiseptic | 3 | 33 |
| Prednisolone | Steroid | 2 | 21 |
| Pregabalin | Nerve pain medicine | 1 | 25 |
| Promethazine | Antihistamine and anti-nausea medicine | 8 | 13 |
| Pseudoephedrine | Nasal decongestant | 17 | 0 |
| Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) | Vitamin B6 | 22 | 43 |
R
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabeprazole | Acid reducer (proton pump inhibitor) | 9 | 171 |
| Ramipril | Blood pressure medicine (ACE inhibitor) | 3 | 37 |
| Ranitidine | Acid reducer (H2 blocker) | 17 | 33 |
| Ringer lactate | Drip fluid for dehydration and blood loss | 0 | 102 |
| Rosuvastatin | Cholesterol-lowering statin | 2 | 23 |
S
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salbutamol | Bronchodilator for asthma | 28 | 25 |
| Serratiopeptidase | Enzyme sold to reduce swelling | 23 | 48 |
| Simethicone | Anti-gas agent | 14 | 24 |
| Sitagliptin | Diabetes medicine (DPP-4 inhibitor) | 0 | 9 |
| Sodium chloride (saline) | Salt solution used in drips and nasal sprays | 16 | 46 |
| Sodium valproate | Epilepsy medicine | 2 | 28 |
| Sucralfate | Stomach lining protector | 7 | 25 |
T
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telmisartan | Blood pressure medicine (ARB) | 5 | 213 |
| Teneligliptin | Diabetes medicine (DPP-4 inhibitor) | 0 | 8 |
| Terbutaline | Bronchodilator for asthma and cough | 15 | 109 |
| Thiocolchicoside | Muscle relaxant | 2 | 10 |
| Tinidazole | Anti-infective for gut and amoebic infections | 9 | 12 |
| Tobramycin | Antibiotic, often in eye drops | 2 | 7 |
| Tramadol | Opioid painkiller | 8 | 16 |
| Tranexamic acid | Reduces bleeding | 3 | 17 |
| Triprolidine | Antihistamine in cold medicines | 12 | 4 |
| Trypsin-chymotrypsin | Enzyme combination sold to reduce swelling | 2 | 27 |
U
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ursodeoxycholic acid | Bile acid for gallstones and liver conditions | 4 | 8 |
V
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vildagliptin | Diabetes medicine (DPP-4 inhibitor) | 0 | 7 |
| Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) | Vitamin D supplement | 13 | 269 |
Z
| Ingredient | What it is | On banned list | Failed batches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc | Mineral supplement, also used in diarrhoea treatment | 90 | 105 |