Is Azithral 500 banned in India?

Azithral 500 is Alembic's azithromycin, one of the most prescribed antibiotics in India and, as a result, one of the most counterfeited. It is not banned.

Azithromycin is an essential medicine and has never been the subject of a Section 26A notification. The only azithromycin combination on a ban list is azithromycin + adapalene, an acne product prohibited in the August 2024 list; it has nothing to do with the tablet.

The reason for the question is the CDSCO's monthly alert for October 2025, which listed five batches of well-known brands as potentially spurious. One was Azithral 500 batch 2408000201. Alembic stated that it had not manufactured that batch, which means the packs found were counterfeit. The same alert named Telma-AM, Chymoral Forte and a buprenorphine injection, with the same denials from their makers. This pattern, the regulator flags a batch, the brand owner says the batch is fake, is now routine, and the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance has objected to the way such findings are reported under legitimate brand names.

An azithromycin suspension from another manufacturer appeared as not of standard quality in the June 2026 alert.

If you have Azithral 500, compare the batch number on the strip with 2408000201. If it differs, the alert does not concern your pack; if it matches, do not use it and show it to your pharmacist.