In April of 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a statement requesting that the popular drug Zantac be removed from stores. This was done because laboratory tests had found that the drug contained a substance that could potentially cause cancer. Following this statement, manufacturers recalled all prescription and over-the-counter drugs containing the drug ranitidine, including the name-brand Zantac and generic equivalents. While this recall may have helped some people avoid being exposed to harmful substances, it did not address the harm caused to those who had used Zantac in the past. Those who have contracted cancer after using drugs containing ranitidine will need to understand their options for taking legal action against the manufacturers of these medications.
Litigation in Zantac Injury Cases
Prior to the recall, Zantac and its generic equivalents were commonly used to treat conditions that affect the digestive system, such as heartburn, acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Independent laboratory tests that were conducted in 2019 found that ranitidine drugs contained unacceptable levels of N-Nitrosodimethylamine, which is more commonly known as NDMA.
NDMA is a carcinogen, and it may cause cancer in multiple parts of the body, including the stomach, esophagus, intestines, colon, rectum, pancreas, kidneys, bladder, liver, lungs, breasts, or prostate. While NDMA is present in certain foods, the FDA recommends that people avoid consuming more than 96 nanograms of this substance each day. However, some tests found that ranitidine products contained as much as 2 million nanograms of NDMA per dose.
...