If you’re like many people who have taken Zantac in the past, you probably heard when it was recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration – but you may not have heard all the details. Here’s an FAQ about Zantac and why the FDA recalled it, as well as what you can do if you believe you were affected by its potentially harmful ingredients.
These are the most common questions we see about Zantac lawsuits. If you don’t see the answer to your question here, please feel free to call our office at 818-230-8380 to talk to an experienced, knowledgeable attorney about your situation.
On April 1, 2020, the U.S. FDA requested manufacturers to withdraw all prescription and over-the-counter drugs that contained ranitidine. Drugs with ranitidine contain N-Nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, which is a contaminant known to be a probable human carcinogen. A probable human carcinogen is any substance that could cause cancer.
NDMA is present in a lot of foods and water, but it’s typically at very low levels – low enough that it’s not expected to increase the risk of cancer. However, in ranitidine, the level is higher, and the FDA found that sustained higher levels of exposure can increase the cancer risk.
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Cancer can be confusing – but the bottom line is that researchers are still pinpointing more details about ranitidine, the ingredient in Zantac which is also available in generic form, and what type of cancer it can cause. If you have been diagnosed with cancer after using Zantac or ranitidine, we may be able to help you get financial compensation. Some of the most common types of cancer associated with heartburn medications containing ranitidine include:
The risk of cancer from Zantac depends on several factors, including how frequently a person took the drug, how old the product was at the time of consumption and whether it was stored in high temperatures. The FDA says, “NDMA levels increase in ranitidine even under normal storage conditions, and NDMA has been found to increase significantly in samples stored at higher temperatures, including temperatures the product may be exposed to during distribution and handling by consumers … the older a ranitidine product is, or the longer the length of time since it was manufactured, the greater the level of NDMA.”
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Zantac does contain ranitidine, which itself contains N-Nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA. NDMA is a probable human carcinogen; that means that the chemical is likely to cause cancer in humans. However, even people who have taken ranitidine drugs for years may never develop cancer.
Other drugs that people take to replace Zantac include:
Before you take any medication – even an over-the-counter one – you should talk to your doctor to make sure that the benefits outweigh the risks for you.
Zantac is no longer available because on April 1, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requested manufacturers to withdraw drugs containing ranitidine from the market. Most manufacturers – including the one who created and sold Zantac, complied and voluntarily recalled their products.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration did not advise people to stop taking Zantac. However, if you’ve been taking Zantac, it may be a good idea to talk to your doctor and ask about alternatives. Your doctor may be able to prescribe you a different drug that will alleviate your symptoms.
If you have been diagnosed with cancer after taking Zantac, you may want to talk to your doctor about your health concerns. You can always call our office at 818-230-8380 to speak with an attorney, as well. We’ll ask you about your situation and explain your options, as well as explore the possibility that your cancer was caused by Zantac, during a free consultation – so call us today.
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