Zantac is a popular H2-blocker heartburn medication that works by reducing acid production in the stomach. Zantac is the brand name of the drug ranitidine, which can also be used to treat and prevent ulcers in the stomach and intestines.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that Zantac and other generic ranitidine heartburn medications may contain nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)—a semi-volatile organic compound that is believed to be carcinogenic. This chemical is also typically found in petroleum-based products, such as gasoline, rocket fuel, and industrial lubricants. Studies found levels of NDMA in Zantac and similar heartburn medications that were 3,000 to 26,000 times higher than the allowed amount set by the FDA.
The FDA is but one agency throughout the United States and Europe that has issued a warning regarding the risks associated with the use of Zantac and its generic, over-the-counter (OTC) ranitidine-based equivalent. The warnings address the palpable concern that Zantac and/or generic ranitidine may contain NDMA and dramatically increase a user’s risk of developing cancer.
Sanofi-Aventis voluntarily ordered a recall of its Zantac product. This move sparked a number of other generic manufacturers—including Apotex, GlaxoSmithKline, and Novartis-AG Sandoz—to follow suit. Several other drug manufacturers have also initiated a voluntary recall of similar ranitidine products in Canada, China, India, Pakistan, and the European Union. The attention paid to this medical emergency forced well-known retailers—such as Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart—to remove Zantac and other ranitidine-based drugs from their shelves.
A growing number of individuals who have developed cancer after taking ranitidine heartburn medication have filed lawsuits against Zantac’s manufacturer, Sanofi-Aventis, and other generic suppliers of similar drugs. People who may be eligible for compensation from a Zantac lawsuit include individuals who regularly used Zantac or the ranitidine equivalent on a regular basis for at least sixty days and were diagnosed with:
- Bladder cancer
- Colon cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Stomach cancer
Slater Slater Schulman LLP is dedicated to the representation of individuals who have been injured through their use of Zantac or other ranitidine drugs. Our firm is handling litigation related to these claims nationwide.
If you or someone you love has been injured as a result of the use of Zantac or other ranitidine drugs, please contact Slater Slater Schulman LLP for a free consultation by filling out the form on this page or by calling our office at (800) 251-6990.
