Lost in the COVID-19 news is a less common but important matter for acid indigestion sufferers: the cancer-linked impurities that have been found in Zantac and other ranitidine-based over the counter drugs. The latest news is that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is ordering that manufacturers pull all involved products from the shelves, and that consumers dispose of any ranitidine tablets of liquid medications that they currently have.
If you or a loved one was diagnosed with cancer after being prescribed Zantac please give us a call at 845-600-0000 or read more here. You have legal options based on the damages that occurred.
The recall is a followup to the FDA’s action last fall, when it announced a “voluntary recall” while it looked into ranitidine-related drugs, because they may contain “unacceptable levels of [impurity]” that causes exposure to a carcinogen known as N-Nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA.
Do you have Zantac in your home?
In the recall order, the FDA said that the cancer-causing carcinogen NDMA is found to increase significantly in Zantac when stored long-term or when exposed to higher temperatures.
If you have Zantac (or another drug that is a form of ranitidine) in your home, you normally would be encouraged to take it to a drug take-back location. In light of COVID-19, the FDA is advising that patients and consumers dispose of it in the garbage using the following tips:
- Mix medicines (liquid or pills; do not crush tablets or capsules) with an unappealing substance such as dirt, cat litter, or used coffee grounds;
- Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag;
- Throw away the container in your trash at home; and
- Delete all personal information on the prescription label of empty medicine bottles or medicine packaging, then trash or recycle the empty bottle or packaging.
Have you been diagnosed with cancer after taking Zantac?
It’s been estimated that hundreds of thousands of people may have taken Zantac and later developed cancer, qualifying for some kind of legal action. We are working with patients based in the Hudson Valley, including Kingston and Poughkeepsie, on an individual basis consistent with what is known as a Mass Tort. This allows for our clients to retain more control over their claim and obtain the best possible monetary result.
Do you still need treatment for heartburn?
If you follow the FDA’s guidance and dispose of your Zantac medication, please follow their advice on how to proceed before taking other drugs:
“Patients taking prescription ranitidine should speak with their health care professional about other treatment options before stopping the medicine, as there are multiple drugs approved for the same or similar uses as ranitidine that do not carry the same risks from NDMA. To date, the FDA’s testing has not found NDMA in famotidine (Pepcid), cimetidine (Tagamet), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid) or omeprazole (Prilosec).”