Health Ministry bans Nimesulide above 100 mg to prevent health risks

In a move to safeguard public health, the Union Health Ministry has banned the manufacture and sale of painkiller Nimesulide oral formulations exceeding 100 mg.

The decision, which is effective immediately, targets “immediate-release” versions of the painkiller, which experts warn pose severe risks to liver and kidneys.

The ban follows a critical report from the Indian Council



of Medical Research (ICMR) in which scientists found that while Nimesulide is effective at reducing fever, high doses often lead to serious liver damage (hepatotoxicity), especially in the elderly and those with existing health conditions.

Health officials, moreover, have now reclassified the drug as a ‘second-line’ option, meaning it should only be prescribed when safer alternatives like Paracetamol fail.