Zantac: Understanding the Negative Health Effects
Available since the early 1980s, Zantac was a commonly recommended drug used to manage and prevent heartburn. Also known as ranitidine, it has been available over the counter and with a prescription, in both tablet and liquid form. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has recently recalled Zantac as it is now believed to cause cancer.
The FDA determined that Zantac may be contaminated with N-Nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA. NDMA is a probable carcinogen, meaning it may cause cancer, and it is believed that the level of NDMA in Zantac can increase over time, even when under normal storage conditions.
Although NDMA is generally considered harmless at lower levels, higher levels are thought to lead to an increased risk of certain cancers in humans, including stomach, bladder, prostate, kidney, pancreatic, and colon.
On April 1, 2020, the FDA requested that companies stop selling Zantac and recommended that consumers immediately cease taking the drug. They further suggested switching to drugs such as famotidine (Pepcid), cimetidine (Tagamet), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid) or omeprazole (Prilosec) if they wished to continue treating their heartburn with medication. Consumers should NOT stop taking their medication without consulting a doctor first.
Zantac Cancer Claims
Learn about the Zantac recall, the effects on users, and your options for pursuing a claim.
- Have you or a loved one taken Zantac for 12 months or more?
- Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with any of these cancers?
- Stomach
- Bladder
- Prostate
- Kidney
- Pancreatic
- Colon
- And more.
Impact of Zantac on Veterans
While the recall poses a problem to many people, the Veteran community has been especially affected as many veterans take Zantac to manage chronic heartburn stemming from service-related conditions such as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). GERD is prevalent in the Veteran population, as underlying conditions such as posttraumatic stress and obesity may make Veterans more likely to suffer GERD heartburn.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, commonly known as GERD, is a digestive disorder in which stomach acid flows back up the esophagus from the stomach, causing discomfort and inflammation. GERD is typically caused by frequent episodes of acid reflux. This occurs when a person’s sphincter, or the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus which lets food pass down into your stomach and prevents it from traveling back up your esophagus, is weak.
A weak sphincter allows stomach acid to travel back up the esophagus, causing GERD. Aside from heartburn, common symptoms of GERD can include difficulty swallowing, regurgitation, and chest pain.
How CCK Can Help if You Used Zantac
Although Zantac NDMA contamination impacts many Veterans, it is not solely a Veterans’ issue. If you or a loved one took Zantac for 12 months or more and have been diagnosed with cancer, you may qualify for compensation. The team at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD is working to fight on behalf of those negatively affected by the use of Zantac. By filing or joining a mass tort claim regarding the use of Zantac, you may be able to get compensation for your injuries.
Contact CCK at (844) 337-2712 or zantacclaims@cck-law.com to see if we may be able to assist you or your loved one.