Source-backedLists change: confirm on CDSCO
Is this medicine banned in India? What a banned FDC means and how to check
A banned fixed dose combination (FDC) in India is a product the Central Government has prohibited by notification. To check one, read the composition on the pack and search the CDSCO list or the IMCURE checker. Our database holds 707 rows across 46 dates, but lists change, so confirm on cdsco.gov.in.
- Rows in our database
- 707
- Distinct notification references
- 654
- Notification dates
- 46
- Rows noted as quashed by Delhi High Court
- 6
- Checker
- imcure.in/tools/banned-medicine-checker/
What banned FDC means
A fixed dose combination (FDC) is one product that contains two or more active ingredients in a fixed ratio. In India, a banned FDC is one the Central Government has prohibited for manufacture, sale and distribution.
Prohibitions are issued as notifications under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, after consulting the Drugs Technical Advisory Board.
Single-ingredient medicines can also be prohibited or restricted by notification. CDSCO publishes the lists.
A banned FDC is a combination product the government has prohibited by notification.
Source1
How to check a medicine
Step 1: read the composition printed on the strip or box. Note every active ingredient and its strength.
Step 2: search the combination in the CDSCO list of prohibited drugs and FDCs, or use the IMCURE banned medicine checker, which searches the same list in our database.
Step 3: match both the ingredients and the dosage form. A notification can name a specific form, such as a suspension or an injection.
Step 4: if a product you hold appears on the list, ask your doctor or pharmacist what to do. Do not change a prescribed medicine on your own.
Read the composition, search the list, match the form, then ask your pharmacist.
Source1
Notification history in our database
Our database holds 707 rows from CDSCO lists, with 654 distinct notification references across 46 dates. 6 rows carry a footnote that the notification was quashed by the Delhi High Court with an appeal pending, and 2 rows are marked restricted rather than prohibited.
Counts below are rows per notification date, computed from the database. Large dates such as 7 September 2018 contain hundreds of separate notification numbers.
| Notification date | Notification number(s) | Rows | CDSCO source file |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-07-23 | GSRNO.578(E) | 18 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1984-01-31 | GSRNO.49(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1984-05-03 | GSRNO.322(E) | 2 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1985-11-22 | GSRNO.863(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1988-11-03 | GSRNO.1057(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1989-08-10 | GSRNO.743(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1990-12-26 | GSRNO.999(E) | 4 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1991-02-11 | GSRNO.69(E) | 4 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1991-06-07 | GSRNO.304(E) | 2 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1992-04-30 | GSRNO.444(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1994-08-09 | GSRNO.612(E) | 2 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1994-09-30 | GSRNO.731(E) | 6 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1995-02-07 | GSRNO.57(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1995-09-13 | GSRNO.633(E) | 3 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1995-12-13 | GSRNO.793(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1996-06-03 | GSRNO.405(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1997-02-25 | GSRNO.93(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1998-08-14 | GSRNO.499(E) | 3 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1999-05-19 | GSRNO.395(E) | 4 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1999-10-14 | GSRNO.702(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 1999-12-16 | GSRNO.814(E) | 2 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2001-03-12 | GSRNO.169(E),GSRNO.170(E) | 9 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2001-08-24 | GSRNO.603(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2003-02-11 | GSRNO.100(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2003-03-05 | GSRNO.191(E) | 2 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2003-10-01 | GSRNO.780(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2004-12-13 | GSRNO.810(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2005-07-28 | GSRNO.510(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2008-04-16 | GSRNO.290(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2008-07-04 | GSRNO.499(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2009-12-11 | GSRNO.884(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2010-11-12 | GSRNO.910(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2011-02-10 | GSRNO.82(E) | 5 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2011-03-16 | GSRNO.218(E) | 2 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2011-05-30 | GSRNO.418(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2011-10-12 | GSRNO.752(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2012-06-07 | GSR432(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2014-07-11 | G.S.R.377(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2016-03-10 | 16 notification numbers | 16 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2018-09-07 | 326 notification numbers | 326 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2019-01-11 | 80 notification numbers | 80 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2021-04-07 | GSRNO.255(E) | 1 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
| 2023-06-02 | 14 notification numbers | 14 | 14fdc_2023.pdf |
| 2024-08-02 | 156 notification numbers | 156 | 156fdc_2024.pdf |
| 2024-08-12 | 3 notification numbers | 3 | 2restricted_2024.pdf,etodolac_2024.pdf |
| 2026-06-11 | 16 notification numbers | 16 | 16fdc_2026.pdf |
| Date not parsed | 4 notification numbers | 4 | updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf |
Most rows come from a handful of large notification dates.
Source2
Caveats
Lists change. A product can be added, removed, restricted or reinstated by a later notification or a court order.
Our database was built from the CDSCO documents named in the table as retrieved on 15 October 2026. It may not include the latest notification. Check cdsco.gov.in for current status.
Some notifications were challenged in court. Rows carrying a quashed-by-High-Court footnote are shown as such in the database and the matter is described in the list as sub judice.
Parsing from PDF can misread a row. If a result matters, read the original notification.
Always confirm on cdsco.gov.in; our database may lag.
Source3
About the questions below
Answers describe how the Indian lists work. They are not advice about any specific medicine you take.
Source1
Frequently asked questions
What is a banned FDC?
It is a fixed dose combination that the Central Government has prohibited by notification for manufacture, sale and distribution.
Source1
Where can I check if my medicine is banned?
Read the composition on the pack and search the CDSCO prohibited list or the IMCURE banned medicine checker.
Source1
How many combinations are on the list in your database?
The database holds 707 rows across 654 distinct notification references, from CDSCO documents retrieved 15 October 2026.
Source4
Can a banned medicine come back on the market?
Court orders can change status. 6 rows in our database carry a footnote that a notification was quashed by the Delhi High Court, with an appeal pending.
Source5
Sources
- 1CDSCO list of prohibited drugs and fixed dose combinations (cdsco_banned/updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf) Open source · 2026-10-15
- 2CDSCO list of prohibited drugs and fixed dose combinations (cdsco_banned/updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf; cdsco_fdc_lists…) Open source · 2026-10-15
- 3CDSCO list of prohibited drugs and fixed dose combinations (cdsco_banned/updated_banned_drugs_list.pdf, footnotes) Open source · 2026-10-15
- 4CDSCO list of prohibited drugs and fixed dose combinations (all source files) Open source · 2026-10-15
- 5CDSCO list of prohibited drugs and fixed dose combinations (footnote rows) Open source · 2026-10-15
Last checked: 2026-10-15 · How we use sources · Report a correction
This information is educational and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. It does not tell you what dose you personally should take. In an emergency call 112.