Zantac linked to numerous cancers

Zantac, a name-brand ranitidine medication used for treating acid reflux and heartburn, was voluntarily recalled when studies showed that it could potentially produce a known carcinogen when digested. The news was made public on September 13th, 2019 when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement warning consumers of the potential presence of NDMA in ranitidine. NDMA, short for N-Nitrosodimethylamine, is a probable human carcinogen that is used to create cancer in rats for cancer research. While the FDA did not instruct consumers to immediately stop taking the medication, they suggested that those taking the drug regularly may want to explore alternative options.

Since the FDA made the findings public, voluntary recalls were announced from nearly every manufacturer of ranitidine including Sanofi, the manufacturer of the drug’s largest brand-name: Zantac. Along with recalls from numerous manufacturers, nearly all pharmacies within the U.S. announced that they have taken the product off their shelves indefinitely. While the manufacturers maintain that the drug is safe to consume, they are voluntarily pulling it off shelves until there is further testing that can conclude whether the prescription medication, as well as the over-the-counter (OTC) medication, is safe.

Failure to warn sparks lawsuits

The alarming results of the studies have triggered several lawsuits against manufacturers of ranitidine. One of those plaintiffs, Joseph Galimidi, stated that Sanofi was aware of the dangers of taking Zantac and “failed to adequately warn against the negative effects and risks associated with Ranitidine products, including Zantac”. Galimidi, a Florida resident, is suing Sanofi for failure to warn him of the risks and that it resulted in him developing breast cancer after regularly taking Zantac for several years to treat his heartburn and acid reflux.

While NDMA can regularly be found in the food and water we consume, it is only present in relatively small quantities. Because of its carcinogenic nature, the FDA has placed a strict limit that no pharmaceutical can exceed 96 nanograms (ng) of NDMA per daily intake. You can imagine the shock that scientists must have had when their tests showed the presence of 304,500 ng of NDMA after a single 150 mg tablet of ranitidine entered a simulated digestive system where nitrates were present.

Zantac contains 3,100 times more NDMA than is "acceptable"

If these initial studies are accurate, a 150mg dose of ranitidine could potentially produce 3,100 times the amount of NDMA that the FDA has deemed an “acceptable” level to be found in pharmaceutical medications. If that wasn’t worrisome enough, some tests have indicated that may only be a fraction of the potential NDMA produced when ranitidine is ingested.

Those that were prescribed Zantac, any of its generic counterparts, or took the OTC version may have been exposed to extremely dangerous amounts of NDMA over sustained amounts of time. For the past decade, doctors have written between 15 and 17 million prescriptions each year for ranitidine, which has been on the market since 1981. The volume of potential victims that may have been affected by taking ranitidine is staggering. While NDMA can cause a number of different types of cancers to develop, the most common types of cancer are:

• Liver Cancer
• Stomach Cancer
• Colorectal (Bowel or Colon) Cancer
• Small Intestine Cancer
• Esophageal Cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Bladder Cancer
• Gallbladder Cancer
• Kidney Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Ovarian Cancer
• Uterine Cancer
• Breast Cancer

If you or someone you loved have developed cancer while taking Zantac, you may be eligible for substantial compensation without ever going to court. Fill out our free case review and we’ll help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the process, and maximize your potential compensation. If you do not receive a recovery through a lawsuit or settlement, you don’t owe us anything.