More than 15 million Zantac prescriptions are written each year, with countless other heartburn medications containing ranitidine (Zantac’s active ingredient) sold over the counter. Although a number of companies have already recalled their ranitidine products and pharmacy chains like CVS, Walmart, and Walgreen’s have stopped selling them, the FDA is now asking that all forms of Zantac be pulled from the market.
What is the problem with heartburn medications?
In addition to impurity issues, ranitidine breaks down into a cancer causing substance known as NDMA (n-nitrosodimethylamine).
NDMA is classified as a potentially dangerous cancer-causing agent, and is used in gasoline, rocket fuel, as a stabilizer in industrial materials, and as an additive to lubricants. Zantac lawsuits allege that Zantac contains levels of NDMA that are 26,000 times higher than the levels allowed by the FDA.
What are the risks of ingesting NDMA heartburn medications?
The association between NDMA exposure and development of the following cancers are under review, but can potentially include:
- Bladder Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Intestinal Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Ovarian Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Testicular Cancer
- Uterine Cancer
If you or a loved one regularly used Zantac for at least 60 days and have been diagnosed with one of the cancers listed above, you may wish to speak to a Zantac lawyer regarding your legal options. Contact our Zantac lawyers online or reach our offices by phone at 877-737-8525.
