The Military Has Asked Service Members To Stop Taking Zantac

April 11, 2020 / 6:16 am

The popular heartburn medication Zantac has been in the news plenty over the last few weeks. Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered that all prescription Zantac and over-the-counter ranitidine products be withdrawn from the market due to the drug potentially containing a cancer-causing carcinogen. At Colson Hicks Eidson, our award-winning product liability team is dedicated to helping anyone harmed by Zantac in Florida or throughout the United States recover the compensation they deserve. Here, we want to discuss how the military is handling this medication.

Military health officials respond to Zantac recall

The FDA sent a notice on April 1, 2020, that all prescription and over-the-counter ranitidine products should be taken off the shelves. This includes the most popular ranitidine medication, Zantac.

Zantac is used to treat heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease, ulcers, and other conditions. However, according to the FDA, an impurity in Zantac called N-nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, has been found in many of these products. In their release, the FDA says that NDMA levels increase over time and when the medication is stored at higher than room temperatures.

Now, Defense Health Agency officials have advised military beneficiaries who take Zantac to talk to their doctors and switch prescriptions. Military health officials are asking that anyone who has Zantac or other ranitidine products to properly dispose of the medications.

NDMA is a cancer-causing carcinogen

Several agencies have labeled NDMA as a probable carcinogen, and they have linked the use of ranitidine products to various types of cancer. This includes the following:

  • kidneys
  • bladder
  • esophageal
  • prostate
  • stomach
  • colon
  • intestines
  • leukemia
  • multiple myeloma
  • non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Approximately 60 million people suffer from heartburn throughout the United States, and there are more than 15prescriptions written every year for Zantac. This number does not include over-the-counter uses of the medication or other ranitidine products.

Many lawsuits have already been filed against manufacturers of ranitidine. Some of the defendants in these cases include:

  • Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  • Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC
  • GlaxoSmithKline LLC
  • Pfizer Inc.

If any manufacturer of Zantac or the generic versions of these medications knew about the potential dangers of these drugs, but failed to warn consumers, they may be held liable for any damages or losses incurred by victims.

We are ready to help your case

If you or somebody you love has been diagnosed with cancer and has been using Zantac, seek legal assistance immediately. At Colson Hicks Eidson, our nationally recognized firm has vast experience handling bad medication cases. Our goal is to investigate what happened and work to secure any compensation you are entitled to. This can include:

  • Coverage of medical expenses related to taking Zantac
  • Lost income and benefits if a victim cannot work
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Loss of enjoyment of life damages
  • Punitive damages against the medication company or manufacturer

If you need a Zantac cancer attorney In Florida or throughout the United States, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or by calling us at 305-476-7400.

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Super Lawyers uses a rigorous screening process including independent research, peer nominations, and evaluations to rate lawyers. Only 5 percent of lawyers in Florida are rated by Super Lawyers, and no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers under 40 or with fewer than 10 years of practice are selected as Rising Stars.

About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of over 50 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.

Congratulations to Colson Hicks Eidson President and Senior Partner Lewis S. “Mike” Eidson and Partner Curt Miner on being selected by the American Association for Justice to receive a prestigious award at the organization’s annual convention.

Mike will receive the Leonard M. Ring Champion of Justice Award, which honors AAJ members of outstanding integrity and character who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to civil and human rights. A past AAJ president and long-respected national trial lawyer, Mike has spent decades advancing justice and protecting the right to trial by jury. 

“I am honored to receive this recognition,” Mike said. “It’s a privilege to be part of a legal community that shares a commitment to protecting people’s rights and ensuring access to justice.”

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“It was one of the highlights of my career to work with the team of lawyers appointed by the Court, and our dedicated team at Colson Hicks Eidson, to help the many families that were impacted by this tragedy,” Curt said. 

The awards will be presented in July at the AAJ Annual Convention in San Francisco. Register here.

About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of over 50 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.

Colson Hicks Eidson has been recognized as one of Florida’s top four trial law firms by Chambers and Partners in the 2025 Chambers USA Guide. We’re especially honored that five of our attorneys were individually recognized for their leadership, legal skill, and commitment to our clients.

Congratulations to Stephanie Casey, Julie Kane, Lewis S. “Mike” Eidson, Roberto Martínez, and Curt Miner.

We are grateful for the recognition and thankful to our clients and peers for continuing to place their trust in us.

The rankings are a result of the firm’s exceptional track record of securing multimillion-dollar judgments and settlements for its clients in areas that include commercial litigation, medical malpractice, products liability, class actions, multidistrict litigation, and aviation and automobile accidents.

To schedule a consultation, do not hesitate to contact an attorney at our law office. We have experience in a wide variety of cases for clients located throughout the nation and around the globe.


About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of over 50 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.

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Click here to read the full guide.


About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of over 50 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.

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Lawyers for this guide are selected through Lawdragon’s process of independent journalistic research and submissions. Their selection process emphasizes lawyers who have demonstrated consistent excellence and have made notable impacts in their fields.

Click here to read the full guide.

The Firm’s recognized attorneys are listed below.

About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of over 50 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.

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Julie was recognized for her representation of plaintiffs in high-stakes personal injury and complex class action cases, leveraging over three decades of experience. Her accomplishments include serving as lead and liaison counsel in significant multidistrict and consolidated national litigation and securing notable verdicts and settlements in products liability, medical malpractice and negligence cases. A strong advocate for the underrepresented, she has spearheaded efforts to safeguard electoral access and has held leadership roles in the American Association for Justice and the Miami-Dade Florida Association of Women Lawyers. Julie’s legal knowledge is further acknowledged by Lawdragon and Chambers USA, underscoring her significant impact on the profession and her commitment to advancing justice.

We are proud to celebrate Julie and Stephanie, whose recognition reflects their outstanding achievements and the firm’s exceptional success in securing significant judgments and settlements across various areas of law.

Read more: http://digital.floridatrend.com/december-2024/page-86

To schedule a consultation, do not hesitate to contact an attorney at our law office. We have experience in a wide variety of cases for clients located throughout the nation and around the globe.

About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of over 50 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.