Millions of Americans deal with heartburn and stomach indigestion daily. For years they have turned to antacid medications for needed relief. Unfortunately, recent research has shown that taking such medications regularly could lead to greater health problems for them.
This is especially true for those who have taken Zantac. Recent studies have linked Zantac to the cause of several types of cancer in consumers who had taken the product regularly.
What is Zantac?
Zantac, chemically known as ranitidine hydrochloride, belongs to a class of drugs that help decrease the amount of acid produced by the stomach. These types of drugs are formally known as histamine H2-receptor antagonists (or H2 blockers). H2 blockers help with common digestive problems such as heartburn, acid reflux, and gastric and duodenal ulcers. Since the early 1980s, Zantac has been one of the most popular H2 blockers on the market. It was available by both prescription and over-the-counter. Dosage varies but some patients can take as much as 300 mg a day.
The Problem with Zantac
In September 2019, an online pharmacy in Connecticut called Valisure told the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that when testing batches of Zantac and its generic ranitidine they discovered a cancer-causing substance. The pharmacy found traces of N-nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, in many batches of Zantac or its generic ranitidine. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), NDMA is a carcinogen that has caused tumors in rodents and non-rodent mammals exposed to NDMA through various studies. Some cancers NDMA exposure may cause include:
- Bladder cancer
- Brain cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colon cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer
- Melanoma
- Ovarian cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Thyroid cancer
Exposure to high levels of NDMA may also cause liver damage in humans.
After learning of this information, many retailers removed prescription and over-the-counter formulas of Zantac from their stores. In April 2020, the FDA made the recall official by requesting all manufacturers of ranitidine to remove the products from the market because new FDA tests had shown a risk to public health.
Lawsuit against Zantac Manufacturers
Since the revelation of this possible connection between Zantac usage and cancer some users have filed lawsuits against multiple Zantac manufacturers, including:
- Sanofi
- Boehringer
- Chattem
- GSK
- Pfizer
Those filing lawsuits allege the manufacturers knew about the danger of NDMA in the product but failed to warn consumers. They also alleged the manufacturers may have defectively designed Zantac and intentionally refused to test Zantac products for fear of exposure.
If the court finds the manufacturer at fault plaintiffs could receive compensation for:
- medical expenses
- lost wages
- pain and suffering
- loss of enjoyment
Getting Help Filing Your Zantac Claim
If you have taken Zantac and believe it may have caused you to develop cancer, you could receive compensation from the manufacturer. However, the nature of such a claim puts the burden of proof on you. You will need to provide adequate evidence to the courts that your exposure to Zantac caused your cancer. To help prove your case you may want to work with an experienced personal injury attorney. Your attorney would know the best evidence to use to prove your claim and can fight for you against the manufacturer’s corporate lawyers.
Brock & Stout’s have over 25 years of experience helping clients get the compensation they need after exposure to defective products. Contact us for a free evaluation to see if our family can help your family.