Recently, Zantac has been recalled due to increased cancer risks. However, many consumers do not realize that the cancer-causing chemical found in Zantac (NDMA) can trigger dormant cancerous growth in a variety of organs. Many have no idea that their cancer could have been caused by prolonged Zantac 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.
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 it’s only practical purpose is the toxin of choice to induce tumors in lab animals. It also 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.
Valisure Study
Valisure the online pharmacy routinely bath tests medications to test for impurities. 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 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.
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. Researchers tied the Zantac cancer link to these medications:
- 150 Tablets both Maximum Strength regular and Cool Mint
- Zantac 75 Tablets
- Wal-Zan 150
- Wal-Zan 75
- Heartburn Relief (ranitidine)
- Acid Reducer (ranitidine)
- Acid Control (ranitidine)
Types of Zantac Cancer
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.