The FDA is asking all manufacturers remove prescription and over-the-counter ranitidine drugs, known by the brand name Zantac, from the market immediately. The FDA also noted an ongoing investigation into the level of contaminate, NDMA in the medication.
About NDMA
NDMA is a chemical component used in aviation and rocket fuel and industrial lubricants. It is also a by-product of several industrial processes, including gasoline refining and the treatment of wastewater containing nitrogen. Also, researchers use NDMA to cause cancer in rats. The Federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 classified NDMA as extremely hazardous. Around 1 in 1000 people will get cancer due to NDMA. No dose is risk-free, however the FDA said a daily limit of the chemical is 96 ng. NDMA is so potent that its only practical purpose is the toxin of choice to induce tumors in lab animals. Also, NDMA initiates and promotes cancer growth.
NDMA Cancer Studies
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.
Zantac Cancer Recall
According to the FDA’s announcement, the organization is sending letters to all manufacturers of ranitidine requesting that they withdraw products from the market. Also, consumers should stop taking any ranitidine tablets or liquid medications they currently have. However, make sure to save the packaging for civil litigation.
There are multiple drugs approved for the same or similar uses as ranitidine that do not carry the same risks from NDMA,” according to the FDA.
In September, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens and Walmart all announced they would no longer sell Zantac and other over-the-counter ranitidine medications due to concerns they might contain NDMA. Then in October, drugmaker Sanofi voluntarily recalled Zantac OTC sold in the United States and Canada.
Zantac Cancer
Exposure to high doses of NDMA can cause cancer after one year of use. These include stomach, bladder, kidney, pancreatic and colon cancers. It also causes testicular cancer in children.
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.
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.