Many people may have heard about the recalls pertaining to Zantac, the popular heartburn medication taken by millions of people in the US. What they may not understand is exactly why the recall has occurred. Here, the nationally recognized firm, Colson Hicks Eidson, wants to discuss ranitidine, the medication at the center of the newly filed lawsuits against the makers of Zantac. We are dedicated to helping clients in Florida and throughout the US who have been harmed due to Zantac.
Explaining Ranitidine And The Testing
Ever since an independent pharmacy discovered that there were high levels of a potentially cancer-causing chemical inside Zantac last year, more than 141 people have filed lawsuits against producers of ranitidine (the name for Zantac). We have previously mentioned that these cases have been consolidated and sent to a US District judge in Florida.
We also want to explain what the problem is with ranitidine. An online pharmacy, Valisure, tests all pharmaceuticals before they dispense them. That is how they discovered that there were tremendously high levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) inside ranitidine. NDMA is a known carcinogen in humans when consumed at high levels. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it is safe for humans to consume 96 nanograms of NDMA a day.
Valisure testing discovered that, after following established testing protocols adjusted for conditions in the human stomach, there were around 300,000 nanograms per tablet. Without adjusting for human stomach conditions, they found tablets with more than 2 million nanograms.
The primary use for NDMA is “in laboratory research to induce tumors in experimental animals.”
What About Other Heartburn Medications?
Many people have asked whether other heartburn medications also contain NDMA. The FDA said that testing has not found the substance in alternative heartburn medications such as the following:
- Pepcid (famotidine)
- Tagamet (cimetidine)
- Nexium (esomeprazole)
- Prevacid (lansoprazole)
- Prilosec (omeprazole)
If you have regularly taken Zantac, you should speak to your doctor about whether you should change medications. This includes both the over-the-counter and prescription versions of the medication. If you have been diagnosed with cancer and have been a regular Zantac user, you should consult with both a medical professional and a skilled Zantac Recall attorney with experience handling these cases.
Let Us Get To Work On Your Behalf
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer after taking Zantac, please seek legal assistance immediately. At Colson Hicks Eidson, we have extensive experience handling these cases and are ready to help secure the compensation you deserve. This can include:
- Cost of your current and future medical bills related to cancer
- Recovery of income and benefits lost if you are unable to work
- Pain and suffering damages
- Loss of enjoyment of life damages
- Possible punitive damages against Zantac’s manufacturer, Sanofi
When you need an award-winning product liability team in Florida or throughout the US, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or by calling us at 305-476-7400.
