Zantac is the trade name for Ranitidine, a popular medication that reduces the body’s production of stomach acid. At one point Zantac was the top selling drug in the world – now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating whether the popular over-the-counter heartburn medication causes carcinogens to form in its users. The issue stems from Zantac causing levels of the probable carcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) to rise in the users’ bodies.
In response to this research and investigation, lawyers are predicting massive numbers of lawsuits over Zantac. The drugmaker, Sanofi, recalled the drug after the FDA discovered the heartburn medication contained an ingredient that could cause cancer.
Zantac FDA Warning
The FDA reported an advisory on September 13, 2019, after discovering the carcinogenic contaminant NDMA in ranitidine, the active ingredient in Zantac, at levels between 3,000 to 26,000 times higher than FDA approved standards. The acceptable threshold of daily NDMA intake is set at below 100 nanograms. Over-the-counter Zantac is typically sold in 150-milligram tablets; the recommended dosage to treat peptic ulcer disease for adults is 300 milligrams a night for four to eight weeks.
Details About the Research
Valisure’s research, along with that of Stanford University and others, found that NDMA was the result of the “inherent instability” of the ranitidine molecule. This means that all manufactures, brand or generic, and all lots of ranitidine-containing medications are affected and could generate very high levels of NDMA in the human body.
Unlike other drugs that have recently been recalled, like Valsartan, the issue with Zantac is that there is a root product problem where Ranitidine has been shown to form thousands of nanograms of NDMA in the human stomach. These discoveries are not new as research shows that it was discovered in the 1980’s.
Possible Side Effects of NDMA-Contaminated Zantac
According to studies of the contaminant NDMA, possible side effects of ingestion include:
- Bladder Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Intestinal Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Ovarian Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Testicular Cancer
- Uterine Cancer
Call Us Now!
The legal team at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. is investigating Zantac induced injury cases. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with cancer after taking Zantac or generic ranitidine, you should immediately contact our attorneys for a free case consultation. For more information, please call us at 1-646-798-9805.
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