Can You Sue Zantac for the Recalled Cancer-Causing Drug?
Zantac, a popular heartburn drug sold in the U.S., ended up in the center of a global controversy due to its carcinogen contents. After testing Zantac, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that the heartburn medication contains 26,000 times the daily intake limit of a cancer-causing carcinogen, N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).
Our firm of Fairfax-based lawyers is taking cases for those who believe their cancer or other health complications are caused by taking Zantac or other NDMA-containing drugs. Speak with our Fairfax personal injury attorney at Jones & Rostant, PC, to assess your potential lawsuit against Zantac and evaluate your eligibility for financial compensation.
What Is Zantac?
The chemical ingredient in Zantac is ranitidine hydrochloride. According to Statista, Zantac was the fourth-leading antacid tablet brand in the U.S. before the controversy that caused the country’s largest pharmacies to pull the drug off their shelves.
Zantac is used to treat heartburn, acid reflux, and a variety of stomach, gastrointestinal, and throat conditions. It is available both by prescription and has also been available over-the-counter. The drug was also prescribed in combination with other medications for allergy relief.
What’s’ the Relationship Between Zantac and Cancer?
The FDA’s investigation revealed that Zantac’s active ingredient – ranitidine hydrochloride – metabolizes in the body into NDMA. The World Health Organization (WHO), the FDA, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) all classify NDMA as a cancer-causing carcinogen.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, NDMA may cause cancer only after a person consumes high doses of the carcinogen over a long period of time. The FDA’s daily limit of NDMA is 96 nanograms (ng) per day for humans, according to the agency’s website.
Studies have shown that Zantac 150 mg tablets contained more than 2,500,000 ng of NDMA, which is 26,000 times the FDA-approved limit of the carcinogen. Zantac is not the only heartburn drug that contains NDMA.
In November, PennLive.com reported that another pharmaceutical company recalled a heartburn drug due to its content of NDMA. The New Jersey-based Amneal Pharmaceuticals, LLC, recalled ranitidine tablets and syrup used to treat gastrointestinal disorders due to high levels of NDMA.
Zantac Recalled Over Cancer Concerns
In response to the FDA’s announcement in September, CVS and Walgreens, the two biggest pharmacies in the nation, stopped selling Zantac, referencing the connection between NDMA in the drug and its carcinogenic effects. The two companies announced that consumers who purchased Zantac could get full refunds.
NDMA-containing drugs have been recalled due to the carcinogen in the past. Last year, several blood pressure medications were recalled due to elevated levels of NDMA, according to WebMD.
Zantac Cancer Risk Lawsuit: You May Be Entitled to Financial Compensation
Like any other consumer, you have the right to know all the risks and benefits associated with the drug prescribed to you. When a drug manufacturer minimizes or conceals the risks in an effort to sell a product despite its side effects, including cancer, you may be entitled to financial compensation via a product liability lawsuit.
If you developed cancer or your loved one died of cancer after taking Zantac, you may be able to recover damages for your personal injury or the wrongful death of your family member. Our Fairfax personal injury attorney will assess your legal options, including the possibility of filing a Zantac recall lawsuit. Contact Jones & Rostant, PC, for a free case review. Call at (703) 352-0522.