Per the FDA’s drug recalls page and as of February 2020, Zantac 150, Zantac 150 Cool Mint, and Zantac 75 are among 18 various medications recalled due to the inclusion or potential inclusion of NDMA in their medicine. In September of 2019, Sanofi, the company that makes Zantac, halted its distribution of the drug. On October 18th, Sanofi recalled Zantac 150, Zantac 150 Cool Mint, and Zantac 75, all over-the-counter medications.
➡️ Read our in-depth report on Zantac
NDMA is classified as a probable human carcinogen. WHO concluded that humans, in reference to NDMA’s carcinogenicity, are particularly sensitive. Due to the process of cleaning drinking water, NDMA is already a bi-product consumed by humans. Further, NDMA is in some foods such as meats smoked or blackened. Therefore, before medication is ever taken, some NDMA is already being ingested.
The FDA recommended safe levels of NDMA for human consumption. The acceptable daily intake for NDMA is .0096 micrograms. This level is based on lifetime exposure and is the level used for the FDA’s recommended recall. The tested lots of Sanofi Pharmaceuticals OTC’s 150mg ranged from .01 to .36 micrograms, and the 75mg ranged from .01 to .04 micrograms per dose. Those taking Zantac regularly have constant exposure to the probable carcinogen above the recommended daily safe level. For more details, check out our in-depth Zantac health report here.
List of Side-effects
At this point of time, the CEO of Valisure, David Light, suggests anyone using Zantac speak with their doctor about switching to another medication. His company is an online pharmacy which prides itself in testing medications before using them. Per Light, “There’s no acceptable cancer risk for a medication like this. It’s given to pregnant mothers; it’s given to infants. There are plenty of alternatives out there.”
Certain types of cancers may have a link to taking Zantac, although Valisure is still working to pinpoint the exact cancers. The EPA found prolonged use caused tumors in the lungs and liver in animal studies. To further complicate, studies with pregnant mice and NDMA, mothers given NDMA during pregnancy resulted in the baby mice born dead or dying shortly after. This raises concerns for in vitro risks when mothers are prescribed Zantac. At this point, no conclusive results have shown the correlation for humans.
Lawsuits are happening nationwide against companies due to NDMA in their medications. If you have been diagnosed with any of the below types of cancers, used Zantac, Zantac OTC or a generic ranitidine, and have taken the medication for at least three months, you may have a case.
- Bladder
- Colon or rectal
- Kidney
- Pancreatic
- Stomach
- Esophageal, throat or nose
- Prostate or testicular
- Brain
- Liver
- Lung
- Small Intestine
- Colorectal
- Other digestive tract cancers
What You Can Do
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with cancer as a result of taking Zantac (ranitidine), you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Please use our free lawyer consultation service or call 1-800-603-6833. All consultations are free of charge and will be answered as soon as possible.
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