Popular Heartburn Medicine Zantac Linked to Cancer

If you have been taking Zantac either by prescription or over-the-counter, you may be eligible for financial compensation from a Zantac lawsuit. We urge you to contact us by filling out the form or giving us a call to find out how we can help you.

Zantac is a well-known medication given to patients for the treatment of certain types of heartburn, namely acid indigestion or gastroesophageal reflux disease. It may also be prescribed for treatment of ulcers as well as prevention.

Side effects of Zantac include:

• Stomach pain
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Chills
• Chest pain or shortness of breath
• Dark urine
• Jaundice
• Unexplained bleeding or bruising
• Either a fast or slow heart rate
• Cough with mucus
• Problems with skin or hair

Zantac may also cause other less common side effects. It’s also known to increase the risk for developing pneumonia.

Ranitidine is the active ingredient sold under the brand name Zantac. It is a histamine-2 blocker and works by decreasing the amount of acid produced by the stomach. People often take the medication long-term if they have a chronic problem.

The issue with ranitidine is that it contains nitrosodimethylamine or NDMA. This substance has been named as a possible carcinogen. Even though not all of the samples the US Food and Drug Administration tested contained an unacceptable level of NDMA, research indicates that ranitidine can break down to form this substance. This causes concern that the breakdown can even occur after a person has taken the medication.

NDMA is found in drinking water from the water treatment. It can also be found in cured meats as well as in dairy products. Low levels of the substance are acceptable, which is why other products aren’t banned. However, NDMA builds up in a person’s system over time and when too much is found in a product, it increases the risk that the person may get enough to develop cancer.

The FDA has requested that all pharmacies pull Zantac and its generic components from the market. Anyone who currently has a prescription for Zantac or an OTC or generic version should stop taking it. They can talk to their doctor about a replacement that doesn’t contain the same active ingredient.

There are concerns about the link between Zantac and several cancers, including stomach, esophageal, bladder, colorectal and small intestine cancer. It may also increase the risk of liver, pancreatic, prostate and kidney cancer as well as leukemia, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Unfortunately, cancers that have been associated with high NDMA exposure include:

Much is not known about the extent of NDMA found in Zantac or how long it has been present. However, the FDA indicates that it may have contained an impurity for as much as the past four years.

If or a loved one has taken Zantac and then been diagnosed with one of those cancers listed, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. We will fight for your rights to get you the maximum compensation. If you lost a loved one because of cancer after taking Zantac, you deserve to be compensated for your loss.