According to Zantac, some products that may reduce acid secretion in your stomach—achieving an effect similar to that of Zantac—include:
- Nexium, also known as esomeprazole
- Prevacid, also known as lansoprazole
- Prilosec, also known as omeprazole
These medications are categorized as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which you can learn more about via Harvard Health. They do not provide the sort of “immediate” heartburn relief that Zantac is intended to, but they combat underlying acid flow that may lead to heartburn.
There are alternatives to Zantac that do not contain ranitidine, which is the generic version of Zantac. Considering facts that have come to light about the dangers of ranitidine, you may be more inclined to use these alternative medications to address any heartburn issues or other gastrointestinal problems that you are experiencing.
Ranitidine Is at the Heart of Zantac Negligence Lawsuits
Ranitidine is the generic version of Zantac and the active ingredient in Zantac, and it is now the focus of assertions that:
- Manufacturers of Zantac and generic ranitidine did not conduct proper testing before bringing Zantac and other forms of ranitidine to market
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which requested Zantac’s withdrawal from the consumer market in April 2020, failed for decades to detect potential instability in ranitidine
- Users of Zantac, generic ranitidine, and other drugs containing ranitidine, such as Valsartan, may have been put at an unacceptable risk of developing cancer
These are allegations broached in multidistrict litigation (MDL) 2924. The lawsuit contains 140 individual allegations of negligence, according to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML), and also states that:
- The molecule ranitidine is inherently unstable
- The instability of the ranitidine molecule meant that it could convert into a chemical compound called N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) inside of the human body
- NDMA is used primarily as a research tool, with its purpose being to produce tumors inside of laboratory animals
- Every dose of Zantac or generic ranitidine ingested since Zantac came to market in 1983 contained this unstable molecule
- Taking ranitidine could produce levels of NDMA in your system hundreds of times higher than levels considered either safe or harmless
The lawsuit also designates specific forms of cancer associated with ranitidine. They include:
- Stomach cancer
- Intestinal cancer
- Liver cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Esophageal cancer
These cancers are the focus of MDL 2924 and other lawsuits brought because of revelations about ranitidine’s danger, which came to light in 2019 thanks to online pharmacy and laboratory Valisure.
If you or your loved one was diagnosed with cancer at any point after ingesting Zantac, generic ranitidine, or another medication containing ranitidine, such as Valsartan, then you may be eligible to join a lawsuit or bring your own lawsuit.
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ClientFind Out if You Qualify for a Ranitidine Lawsuit
Being exposed to a risk of cancer without warning could be grounds for a lawsuit. Many people find themselves in such a position and are turning to lawyers for assistance.
A lawyer or their team may begin assisting you by:
- Conducting a consultation to gather the facts of your specific use of ranitidine and your subsequent onset of cancer
- Advising you on various legal options available to you, which may include joining mass lawsuits, such as MDL 2924, or bringing an individual lawsuit
Your health is of the utmost priority, and you may want to cease using ranitidine-containing medications and seek alternatives to Zantac if you have not already. It may also be important to you to seek justice for any harm you sustained because of failures by the likes of drug manufacturers and regulatory bodies.
If you or your loved one qualifies to bring or join a lawsuit, then a lawyer may:
- Draft the necessary paperwork to initiate your lawsuit
- Collect evidence that could show you are the victim of negligence
- Speak with experts whose testimony could support your charges of negligence
- File all motions and take all legal actions necessary to move your lawsuit along
- Negotiate a settlement on your behalf, with you ultimately determining whether it is acceptable
- Argue your case for compensation at trial, should a trial prove necessary
- Defend your rights, as well as the rights of any loved one that you represent
You may be hoping to collect compensation for various losses, and your lawyer may help you seek compensation for losses, such as:
- Cancer-related healthcare costs
- Income you have lost because of your cancer
- Losses related to the death of a loved one
- Mental anguish and other forms of pain and suffering
These losses may have taken a toll on you personally, professionally, and financially, and a lawyer will fight for you to receive any awards that you are entitled to.
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Rick Smith | ClientCall Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Ranitidine has now been linked to cancer. You or a loved one could have reason to bring or join a lawsuit if you took Zantac or generic ranitidine and later developed cancer. To learn more about your options for seeking justice, call our team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777 for a free consultation.
