Yes. Taking Zantac every day can be harmful as it contains a cancer-causing agent, which may lead to the development of different types of cancers over time.
How Zantac Works
Zantac is a brand name of the drug known as ranitidine. Zantac is an over-the-counter medication that is an H2 blocker that allows patients to receive relief for acid indigestion, heartburn, and sour stomach. H2 blockers block a type of acid-producing component in the stomach known as histamine 2. While it does not directly block acid production at the source such as a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), it does reduce the amount of acid within the stomach, thus relieving the symptoms of heartburn. However, there are studies now that connect Zantac and other products containing ranitidine with serious medical complications, including cancer. Therefore, if you took Zantac for any period of time, you should visit with your doctor regarding what different types of medication you should now take for heartburn relief.
Zantac and NDMA
In 2019, the Valisure laboratory detected that ranitidine medications contained harmful levels of a cancer-causing material known as NDMA (N-nitrosodimethylamine). Additionally, research showed that an enzyme commonly found within a person’s body (DDAH-1) may actually act on the ranitidine molecule to produce NDMA. Also, the research found that ranitidine actually reacts with itself in higher temperatures to create NDMA at levels high enough to develop into different types of cancers.
Understanding NDMA
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, NDMA was originally produced in the United States as a research chemical intended for rocket fuel. Production ceased after research showed high levels of this cancer-causing chemical were then found in soil, water, and air samples near a rocket fuel manufacturing plant. In some cases, NDMA forms unintentionally during the manufacturing process or when certain chemical reactions occur (both natural and man-made), such as the reaction that occurs within the ranitidine drug and the DDAH-1 of a person’s body.
Zantac Recalls
At one point, millions of Americans took Zantac, and it was one of the most prescribed drugs in the world for heartburn. Both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry have classified NDMA as a carcinogen. After additional research from the Valisure laboratory came to light regarding the connection between Zantac and NDMA, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled all ranitidine products, including Zantac, from store shelves. With further testing, the FDA confirmed that Zantac and other products containing ranitidine contained levels of NDMA greater than acceptable medical standards, and all were above the daily intake levels for any one person.
Zantac, Cancer and Other Medical Complications
Taking Zantac every day can be harmful due to the fact that over time, the cancer-causing agent found in the medication can potentially develop into different types of cancer within a patient. According to the World Health Organization, exposure to large amounts of NDMA can result in gastric, colorectal, kidney and other types of cancers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) research indicates that animals that consumed large amounts of NDMA could develop serious, non-cancerous, liver diseases. Additionally, research from the CDC showed that NDMA could cause internal bleeding and death in animals.
It is important to note that this particular research from the CDC does indicate that there were no reports of NDMA causing cancer in humans, however, as research continues to move forward in this area, it does appear that this chemical may cause cancer after exposure over a long period of time at high doses, as indicated in research from Harvard Medical School.
What To Do if You Took Zantac Every Day
If you took Zantac, or another medication containing the drug ranitidine, you should follow the recall instructions that each specific company provides, located on the FDA’s website. You should always check with your physician or health care professional regarding your medical condition, and what treatment options exist for your specific medical condition. Other medications are available to assist those with heartburn and acid-reflux issues. Currently, no stores carry Zantac on their shelves, and if you have remaining Zantac or other medications containing ranitidine, you should check with your doctor regarding how to either dispose of them, or what other types of medication would be best for your specific medical condition.
How a Zantac Lawyer Can Help
If you took Zantac every day and suffered harm or injuries as a result, contact our legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today. Call us at (800) 794-0444 to help you understand your legal rights and how a ranitidine cancer lawsuit lawyer may be able to help you with your case. The call is free and there is no obligation. We may be able to seek a fair settlement on your behalf to cover your medical bills and losses.