Thousands are completely unaware that their cancer could have been caused by their heartburn medication, Zantac. The FDA never approved Zantac for long-term use, however, GSK, the manufacturer, advertised Zantac as safe to take as long as needed. This is not the case at all. People developed cancer as little as a year after use.
About Zantac Cancer
On September 13, 2019, the FDA reported the discovery of the carcinogenic contaminant N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in Zantac (ranitidine). Zantac is a common heartburn medication available in both prescription and over-the-counter versions. The FDA says the levels are low, however, researchers found the numbers to be almost 30,000 times higher than safe doses. Multiple studies from various sources have said that the body turns the active molecule in Zantac, ranitidine, into NDMA. The average daily dose allowed by the FDA is 96 ng. However, multiple studies found the NDMA levels in Zantac to be in the millions.
Suspected Zantac Cancer Cause
In 2016, researchers at Stanford University studied 5 male and 5 female healthy adults. Each received a single 150 mg Zantac tablet. They tested their urine 24 hours before ingestion and 24 hours after. They discovered NDMA in their urine that averaged 47,600 ng per person. One had 74,100 ng. The natural daily limit is 96 ng. This is almost 500 times the recommended limit! The most shocking is that only 5% of the NDMA comes in the urine. The body absorbs most of it. These NDMA excretion rates catapult the risk of Zantac cancer.
Valisure Study
Valisure the online pharmacy routinely batch tests medications to test for impurities. Therefore, the company discovered NDMA in Zantac using gold-standard testing measures. The findings revealed 2.4 MILLION NDMA per ng in a 150 mg tablet. Their study concluded that ranitidine (the Zantac molecule) itself turns into NDMA within the human body.
Emery Pharmaceutical Study
Emery Pharmaceutical took various dosages of ranitidine pills and exposed them to heat. Even with the heat and not any other environments, there is a huge increased rate of NDMA. If the manufacturer kept Zantac cool during the shipment process, NDMA could have possibly been avoided.
Known Zantac Cancers
The different cancers tied to Zantac use are:
- Bladder cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Lung cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colon and rectal cancer
- Intestinal cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Uterine cancer
Cancers can form after as little as 6 months of use.
Steps After Suspected Zantac Cancer
If you or someone you love suspect that Zantac caused your cancer. There are important steps to take also to ensure you receive the most compensation for your injuries. Take photos of any Zantac medications you took. This includes over-the-counter, generic and name-brand drugs. Save any leftover medications for testing.
If you do not have any medications, it helps to prove that you took Zantac or its generic counterparts. This includes receipts, loyalty program records, doctor records, or medical reports. Then, compile all medical records proving your cancer happened. This helps to draw a link between Zantac use and your cancer.
If you have any questions, call The Michael Brady Lynch Firm for your free consultation.
Free Consultation
Therefore, if you have experienced stomach, bladder, kidney, pancreatic or colon cancer after taking Zantac for a year, you may be eligible for compensation to offset your financial, physical and emotional burdens. Contact us today to set up a free consultation during which we will listen to your story and discuss your legal rights and options. If you choose us to represent you, we will work with you on a contingency fee basis; this means you pay nothing until we have secured compensation for you, either through a jury verdict or settlement.