You may be able to sue over Zantac or another medication containing ranitidine if:
- You or a loved one took Zantac or its generic equivalent ranitidine
- You or your loved one later developed one of the cancers of the liver, stomach, intestine, esophagus, kidney, bladder, or pancreas currently linked to the consumption of ranitidine
Zantac is now known to contain a compound that may convert into a carcinogen known as N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) within your body. Manufacturers of drugs containing ranitidine, as well as regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are accused of failing to detect the danger that Zantac is now alleged to pose to consumers like you.
Zantac’s Danger May Have Been Hiding In Plain Sight
Zantac, the original brand-name version of the compound ranitidine, came to market in 1983 after obtaining FDA approval, according to Reuters. Zantac was marketed as a:
- Preventative medication for those prone to heartburn
- Treatment for those with heartburn
- Preventative measure for those who may be likely to develop ulcers of the stomach or intestines, according to Harvard Health Publishing
- Treatment for those who had developed stomach or intestinal ulcers
Zantac became wildly successful, as Reuters notes that it became the “world’s best-selling drug” in 1988, and when its patent expired in 1997 major drug manufacturers began selling generic Zantac—known as ranitidine—as well as their own brand-name alternatives.
It is now believed that between Zantac’s commercial release in 1983 and 2019 the medication posed a threat of causing cancer, and that this threat was never disclosed to consumers.
Several Failures May Have Concealed Zantac’s Danger
In 2019, an online pharmacy called Valisure discovered through in-house testing that ranitidine could break down in the body into NDMA, according to ABC News.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes NDMA as:
- A probable carcinogen
- The byproduct of producing rocket fuel
- Commonly found in wastewater, and at wastewater treatment plants
- “A priority pollutant”
NDMA is not generally considered safe for human consumption and may become carcinogenic when present in unsafe levels. According to the authors of a lawsuit on behalf of those believed to have been harmed by consuming ranitidine, multidistrict litigation (MDL) 2924:
- Some ranitidine users have as high as 400 times more ranitidine in their system than is considered “acceptable”
- At least one manufacturer of Zantac encouraged or de-stigmatized behaviors, namely a high nitrate diet, that could increase the rate of NDMA production in the human body
- Ranitidine is likely to convert into a high (i.e. dangerous) amount of NDMA molecules in the body, and therefore medications containing ranitidine, such as Zantac, may be considered very dangerous
The fact that Zantac has been available to consumers since 1983, yet consumers were only warned of its possible carcinogenic in 2019, suggests failures at multiple levels. Those who may be liable for you or your loved one’s development of Zantac- or ranitidine-related cancer may include:
- The FDA
- Individual manufacturers of Zantac or another medication containing ranitidine
- Doctors who did not properly warn you of the dangers of the medication you were prescribed, or that you asked them about
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ClientYou May Have Grounds for a Zantac Lawsuit
If you or a loved one took Zantac or another medication containing ranitidine and developed cancer, a lawyer may assist you in bringing a lawsuit. They may:
- Review your account of events
- Advise you on your eligibility for legal action
- Help you join a pending class action lawsuit or multidistrict litigation (MDL)
- Bring an individual lawsuit on your behalf
You can also expect a lawyer to:
- Collect evidence pertaining to your case
- Consult experts whose testimony may benefit your case for compensation
- Handle all necessary legal filings and motions
- Defend your rights throughout the legal process
- Represent you in all legal proceedings necessary to complete your lawsuit
A successful outcome to your lawsuit may mean that you could collect compensation for:
- Medical expenses related to your cancer or your loved one’s cancer
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Any other losses related to cancer possibly caused by ranitidine, whether from Zantac or another medication
You do not need to fight for any compensation that you are entitled to on your own.
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Rick Smith | ClientCall Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today
We will work hard to pursue any compensation for any negligence that has impacted you. We will assist you if you are eligible to sue the manufacturers of Zantac (and possibly other parties), so call our team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777 for a free consultation.
