What Does the FDA Say About Zantac?

Notice: At this time we are no longer accepting cases related to Zantac cancer claims. However, if you have questions about other mass tort or personal injury cases that we are currently accepting, please call or fill out our case evaluation form.

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The United States Food and Drug Administration, known as the FDA, has:

• Requested that all manufacturers of Zantac and similar drugs containing ranitidine be taken off the consumer market
• Cited the possible emergence of a chemical compound called N-Nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, in the human body as a result of ranitidine as the reason for the withdrawal request
• Accurately cited NDMA as a possible human carcinogen that may have put countless users of Zantac and other medications containing ranitidine at risk of developing certain cancers

In short, the FDA says that Zantac is not safe for human consumption. If you or a loved one developed cancer after taking Zantac, generic ranitidine, or another pharmaceutical equivalent containing ranitidine, you may have grounds to bring or join a lawsuit.

The FDA Has Condemned Zantac

Back in 1983, the FDA gave original Zantac manufacturer Glaxo Holdings Ltd (now GlaxoSmithKline PLC) the green light to bring the antacid to market, according to Reuters. Decades later, in April 2020, the FDA issued a request that manufacturers of medications containing ranitidine, including Zantac, withdraw their products from the market.

The request by the FDA stated or implied that:

• The danger associated with ranitidine in drugs like Zantac may increase with different storage temperatures
• Even under normal storage conditions, “unacceptable levels” of NDMA were found in Zantac, according to FDA testing in 2019
• Zantac and similar ranitidine-containing substances contain impurities that may compromise the health of consumers

The FDA’s latest announcement seemingly lends credence to lawsuits, which are now alleging that Zantac and other drugs containing ranitidine put consumers at an unacceptable risk of developing certain cancers. A closer look at the NDMA compound in ranitidine helps explain why these lawsuits have been brought forward.

NDMA Is Not Meant for Human Consumption

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), NDMA found in elevated levels in Zantac are also found in:

• Processes used to produce rocket fuel
• Wastewater
• Research purposes

The EPA notes that NDMA is not intended for human consumption, but instead for research purposes. A lawsuit was brought on behalf of consumers who developed cancer after taking Zantac or an equivalent medication containing ranitidine, known as multidistrict litigation (MDL) 2924. It elaborates on the sort of research that NDMA may be used for.

Per the lawsuit, NDMA:

• May be used to intentionally produce tumors in lab mice so that various approaches to treating tumors can be tested
• May produce similar tumors in humans who ingest unsafe levels of NDMA
• Was produced in unsafe levels in a significant number of humans who consumed Zantac
• May lead to kidney cancer, liver cancer, esophageal cancer, intestinal cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, and stomach cancer in humans who consumed Zantac or other ranitidine-containing medications

The FDA has now confirmed that drugs containing ranitidine, including Zantac, may produce unsafe levels of “probable carcinogen” NDMA in people who consume them. If you or your loved one have relied on Zantac or ranitidine in another form to treat heartburn or another ailment and then later developed cancer, you may be eligible for compensation.

You Cancer May Be Grounds for a Lawsuit

If you have personally experienced cancer or have seen a loved one battle the disease, then you know that cancer may take a toll on:

• Physical health
• Psychological health
• Emotional health
• Finances
• Quality of life

Cancer may be the most adverse possible side effect of any medication and can potentially lead to death as a result. If you believe that Zantac or another drug containing ranitidine may have contributed to your cancer or the cancer of a loved one, then you may be eligible to join or bring a lawsuit.

A Lawyer Will Bring Your Zantac Lawsuit

If you want to learn more about your eligibility to pursue compensation as a former user of Zantac or the family member of somebody who got sick after using Zantac (or a similar medication), then a lawyer may be of assistance to you.

The FDA says that Zantac is not safe. A lawyer may be able to collect documentation of FDA reports and other facts that could help strengthen your case for compensation should you choose to pursue one. In addition to citing relevant facts and arguments, a lawyer may:

• Obtain documentation of your cancer
• Calculate the damages that you have sustained and compensation that you are entitled to as a result
• Represent you in settlement negotiations or at trial
• Defend your rights

If your lawsuit proves successful, then you may be able to obtain financial awards covering:

• The cost of diagnosing your cancer
• The cost of treating your cancer
• The cost of rehabilitation for symptoms of cancer or treatment required to fight your cancer
• Lost income
• Pain and suffering
• Losses related to the death of a loved one if your lawsuit involves a wrongful death suit

Call Us at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today

We are a family-oriented law firm that understands the immense toll that cancer can take. We want to help you fight for any compensation that you are entitled to because of a dangerous drug, so call our team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777 for a free consultation.