Zantac Cancer Lawsuit

The organic compound, formerly used to make rocket fuel, is known to cause cancer in research animals. NDMA is described as a waste product of industrial processes including the making of industrial lubricants and pesticides. It is part of the N-nitrosamine family of potent carcinogens.

The yellowish, odorless liquid is said to be present at supposedly safe micro levels in some food products—particularly cured meats—and water supplies, even beer.

The toxic chemical has been found to damage the liver and other organs in humans. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has concluded that NDMA is a “probable human carcinogen” that can increase a person’s risk of developing cancer.

Although most of what is currently known about NDMA’s carcinogenic qualities come from animal-based studies, the World Health Organization has reported that several case-control studies and one cohort study of dietary intake of high does of NDMA in the human body showed results “supportive of the assumption that NDMA consumption is a probable carcinogen is positively associated with either gastric or colorectal cancer.”

The main issue in current Zantac and ranitidine medicines cases centers around the contamination of NDMA into the products during a chemical reaction in the manufacturing process.

At this time, medical professionals believe the NDMA in Zantac is responsible for the thousands of people who have developed various cancers after Zantac use.

Yes, on April 1, 2020 the FDA issued a recall of Zantac due to NDMA in Zantac. While many Americans take ranitidine over-the-counter (OTC) for relief of heartburn and indigestion, prescription-strength ranitidine is sometimes used by physicians to treat and prevent ulcers in patients.

Although the FDA initially reported that NDMA levels (above 96 nanograms- well above the daily intake limit) in the contaminated ranitidine were barely any higher than the supposedly safe amounts found in common foods, it later declared the levels to be “unacceptably high.”

However, the agency is not currently recommending that patients stop taking ranitidine products immediately, but urging patients to speak to their doctors about alternative prescription and OTC medications for their conditions.

Meanwhile, several drug makers including Novartis-owned Sandoz Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim Apotex, Boehringer, and GlaxoSmithKline (the original developer of Zantac), announced a voluntary recall or halting distribution of some batches of their generic ranitidine-containing products in the U.S. and other countries.

 It’s important to note that to date, brand-name Zantac (manufactured by Sanofi) was voluntarily recalled on October 18, 2019, as was the generic version, ranitidine when they discovered NDMA contamination levels that greatly exceeded the FDA's acceptable daily intake suggestions.

If you are concerned whether your particular brand of ranitidine is impacted by NDMA exposure, links to information about the specific products that have been recalled by their manufacturers are provided in the “Resources” section at the end of this article.

The environmental contaminant NDMA has been known to cause serious, non-cancerous liver damage in humans and is used by cancer researchers to induce liver tumors in rodents. It is believed to be a risk factor for a range of human digestive system cancers including that of the stomach, colon, pancreas, and liver cancer as well as bladder cancer.

Stomach Cancer

Cancer of the stomach (adenocarcinoma) is treatable when caught at an early stage. Recent tests show one of its precursors can be the condition known as GERD or acid reflux. It is also believed to be associated with obesity and smoking, as well as poor diet.

• Symptoms of stomach cancer include:
• Fatigue
• Feeling bloated after eating
• Feeling full after eating small amounts of food
• Persistent heartburn
• Nausea or vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Weight loss
  

Medical treatment options for stomach cancer depend on the stage that the disease has progressed to, and include surgery (including removal of the stomach), radiation and chemotherapy.

Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is fairly rare, accounting for just five percent of cancers diagnosed in the U.S. It is more likely to strike males over age 55 than females and is more common among Caucasians than other races.

Risk factors are believed to include family history, smoking, chronic bladder inflammation/infections, and exposure to certain industrial chemicals, including high levels of NDMA (n-nitrosodimethylamine). Like stomach cancer, bladder cancer is also highly treatable, with a reported five-year survival rate of  over 75 percent.

However, if left untreated it can spread to vital  organs including the lungs and liver via the lymph nodes.

Early symptoms of bladder cancer can mimic those of urinary tract infections and other ailments, and include: pain during urination, frequent need to urinate, difficulty urinating and blood in the urine.

Once the disease has progressed, symptoms can include: weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite.

Bladder cancer is treated through surgical removal of cancerous tissue and even all or part of the bladder (cystectomy), chemotherapy, and radiation.

Other Cancers

High levels of NDMA has also been linked to the following types of Zantac cancer:

• Esophageal cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Lung cancer
• Lymphoma
• Liver cancer
• Breast cancer
• Intestinal cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Lung cancer tumors
• Prostate cancer (in men under 65)
• Leukemia
• Multiple myeloma

If you are currently taking Zantac, you should contact your physician and discuss your situation with them. Your doctor can advise you of alternative medications and advise you how to proceed.

If you were taking over-the-counter Zantac or ranitidine, you may wish to review information on the recall from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

If you or a loved one has taken Zantac or ranitidine and developed stomach cancer or bladder cancer, contact the Zantac recall attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC at (888) 424-5757 to schedule a free consultation to discuss whether you have a valid claim for compensation from the drug companies involved.

The medication you are taking now could cause serious medical complications in the months or years ahead.

You could be eligible to receive financial compensation for all medical expenses associated with the health condition that resulted from your Zantac consumption, ongoing tests, lost income for the time your illness left you unable to work, pain and suffering, loss of normal life and other tangible and intangible damages.

Our law firm accepts all wrongful death lawsuits and defective drug injury claims through contingency fee agreements which postpone payment for our legal  services until after we have successfully resolved your case.

If we are unable to secure compensation on your behalf through a trial  award or negotiated out-of-court settlement, you owe us nothing. Let our experienced team of product liability and class action attorneys go to work for you and your family to fully compensate you for your Zantac cancer.

The time required to file a Zantac cancer lawsuit will be dependent on where you live and when you were diagnosed with cancer. Cases, such as Zantac lawsuits, are governed by a statute of limitations for filing a case.

Failure to comply with the applicable statute of limitations will bar a financial recovery. If you have questions about the statute of limitations for your situation, contact a Zantac cancer attorney at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers.