Heartburn and gastrointestinal reflux disease are common conditions that many people across the U.S. face. Zantac was one of the leading brand names of antacid medication sold before the FDA issued a recall on the defective drug. If you or a loved one was either prescribed or took Zantac for a long period of time, it is important to learn about the recall and take action if you have suffered any injuries or negative side effects.
What Is Zantac?
Zantac, also known as generic ranitidine, is an antihistamine and antacid medication that helps treat and prevent heartburn, gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), and stomach ulcers. The medication developed by drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline was released on the U.S. market in 1983, sold as a prescription and an over-the-counter drug. Zantac effectively helped decrease stomach acid production for Americans who suffered with gastrointestinal conditions and treated daily discomfort. The majority of Zantac sold over the past ten years has been manufactured by Sanofi SA, the third largest pharmaceutical company in the world.
What Are The Risks of Zantac?
In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requested the removal of all ranitidine products from the market. Zantac and its generic form ranitidine was recalled by the FDA due to unsafe levels of NDMA in the medication. NDMA, or N-Nitrosodimethylamine, is a compound that can be naturally found in foods and the environment, however consuming high levels can be dangerous and cause cancer. While humans can safely consume up to 96 nanograms of NDMA per day, it was found that batches of Zantac had an excess of 3 million nanograms of NDMA per tablet. Further research by the FDA found that the NDMA contamination increases over time when Zantac is stored at high temperatures.
Research on cancers caused by NDMA contamination in Zantac are still in early stages, but have shown an increased risk of developing cancers including:
- Bladder cancer
- Colon cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Liver cancer
- Intestinal cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Thyroid cancer
Since the recall of Zantac in April 2020, Zantac patients who have been diagnosed with cancer have been filing personal injury claims against the drug manufacturers for failure to warn about the increased risk of cancer.
See a Doctor For Alternative Medications
If you have recently taken Zantac or have been prescribed Zantac in the past, an important first step is to see your doctor as soon as possible. Depending on when you took Zantac and for how long you took the medication, your doctor may recommend testing for NDMA poisoning and liver damage. If you have experienced any side effects or signs of the common types of cancers associated with the defective Zantac medication, be sure to tell your doctor and they will be able to further diagnose your symptoms.
Getting professional medical advice from your doctor can help you find an alternative medication to treat the gastrointestinal conditions caused by stomach acid production. There are several other antacid and H2 blocker medications available that your doctor can recommend to treat and provide the same relief as Zantac.
Get Legal Representation for a Zantac Lawsuit
Finding out that you took a defective drug can be alarming. The pharmaceutical companies and drug manufacturers should be held liable for the defective product that was sold on shelves. Working with an experienced Zantac lawsuit attorney can help you file a Zantac lawsuit and recover compensation for any injuries the defective medication caused. Zantac personal injury claims as well as wrongful death claims have been filed against the Zantac drug manufacturing company by victims who have suffered serious negative side effects from taking the contaminated drug. The attorneys at Estey & Bomberger specialize in product liability lawsuits and have represented Zantac cancer lawsuits across the U.S. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer after taking Zantac, find out if you are eligible to file a class-action lawsuit against the drug manufacturers and seek compensation as soon as possible.