The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, took the rare and dramatic step of immediately ordering the widely used heartburn medicine Zantac removed from the market on April 1, 2020. Zantac is the brand name for ranitidine, the primary element of both prescription and over-the-counter versions of this medication. In addition, all generic forms of this drug were ordered off the market by the FDA as well.
The FDA took this extraordinary step as the result of research that revealed Zantac contains a carcinogenic contaminant known as N-nitrosodimethylamine or NDMA. NDMA has been proven to be capable of causing cancer in humans.
The FDA has concluded that the levels of NDMA increase the longer Zantac is stored, particularly if the medication is stowed in an area that has a slightly higher than average room temperature. The levels of NDMA present an unreasonable health threat, according to the FDA. In other words, the FDA ordered the drug to be removed from the market because it exposes consumers to a dangerous cancer risk.
Zantac and Cancer Risks: Who Knew What – And When?
A rapidly developing issue associated with this drastic Zantac recall is when did the pharma company as well as doctors know of the cancer risks associated with this medication? How long has the pharmaceutical company been producing the drug and how long have doctors been prescribing it knowing that the medication likely contained a cancer-causing contaminant? These and other questions are issues that can be addressed by an experienced, tenacious drug injury lawyer, as discussed more fully in a moment.
Types of Cancer Linked to Contaminant in Zantac
Unfortunately, a number of severe types of cancers have been linked directly to the NDMA, the hazardous substance found in Zantac, according to the FDA. These include:
- liver cancer
- pancreatic cancer
- lung cancer
- colorectal cancer
- esophageal cancer
- bowel cancer
- stomach cancer
Not only is the fatality rate associated with all of these types of cancer particularly high, the courses of treatment associated with them fairly can be described as brutal. If a person ends up diagnosed with one or another of these types of cancer because of exposure to NDMA in Zantac, possible courses of treatment are:
- radiation
- chemotherapy
- surgery
- targeted therapy
Seek Medical Attention and Protect Your Legal Rights – Today
If you’ve taken prescription or over-the-counter Zantac, of a generic alternative, you need to contact your primary care physician promptly. There is a significant number of other prescription and over-the-counter heartburn medication alternatives available to you that do not contain potentially cancer-causing NDMA.
A stark reality of having used Zantac is that you may have been exposed to a cancer-causing contaminant in that medication. If that is the case, you not only must address your vital medical issues, but you need to protect your legal interests as well. When it comes to detecting NDMA in your system, there is no standard lab test available for that purpose. Nonetheless, your doctor will be able to ascertain whether you’ve NDMA in your system (as the result of taking Zantac or a generic alternative). This is accomplished by performing either a specialized blood or urine test.
The first step in safeguarding your crucial legal rights is to schedule a no-obligation consultation with a Doan Law Firm drug injury lawyer by calling (800) 349-0000. Our Zantac Hotline is staffed round the clock, 365 days a year, including all major holidays.
A nationwide law practice, our firm can arrange an initial consultation and case evaluation with you at any one of our offices located from coast to coast. In addition, we can schedule a virtual appointment with you online. There is no charge for an initial consultation with a drug injury lawyer from our firm.
When it comes to prescription drug injury cases as well as over-the-counter drug injury claims, The Doan Law Firm makes an attorney fee promise to you. We never charge a fee unless we win for you.
We understand how alarming it is to learn that a medication you’ve likely trusted for an extended period of time may be responsible for exposing you to a dangerous cancer-causing substance. Our prescription drug injury lawyer team not only has the experience but the inherent compassion to assist you during these challenging times. Again, you can reach us – day or night – by calling (800) 349-0000.