If you’ve had heartburn or digestive problems, you know how important it is to get calming, soothing relief fast. One of the most sought-after OTC (over-the-counter) and prescription medications to help provide that relief has been Zantac, which is also known as ranitidine. Thousands of people have turned to it for help because it was supposed to reduce acid in the stomach.
But now, the medication is under a cloud of suspicion because it has an ingredient that is thought to cause cancer. If you have taken Zantac and were later diagnosed with a form of cancer, read on. You may have the right to file a ranitidine lawsuit.
IN THE NEWS
It was discovered, when randomly testing groups of ranitidine doses in 2019, that a known cancer-causing agent in excessive amounts was among the ingredients. At that time, the finding was reported to the FDA (Federal Drug Administration). The FDA’s testing methods found the same thing: excessive levels of the carcinogen and they launched an independent investigation.
More than one manufacturer, of course, makes Zantac. Some of those manufacturers voluntarily recalled the medication and issued safety alerts to consumers. A formal recall of the medication was made in April 2020 due to a growing concern for the safety and welfare of consumers.
THE RECALL
In October 2019, Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim (the pharmaceutical company who produces Zantac) initiated a recall of its own in the United States and Canada. Other countries have banned the medication and halted shipments of it. Ranitidine can be found in other products with generic names and many of those drug manufacturers have also recalled the products.
Many retailers pulled the products from their shelves and offered refunds to those who had purchased the tainted products. The cancer-causing agent, NDMA (N-Nitroso dimethylamine), has been linked to several cancers, including stomach, rectal, colon, and cancer in the digestive tract.
THE SCIENCE
Researchers have been investigating how much ranitidine would need to be consumed to raise the risks of getting cancer from the medication. The dosage of Zantac varied between 75 and 150 mg. but some consumers were taking 300 mg. once a day. One routine test conducted early on showed that 150 mg tablets contained up to 3,000 times the recommended daily limit suggested by the FDA. It was also found that product storage at high temperatures can cause contamination of the ingredients, leading to increased potency levels and possibly causing further damage to a person’s health.
HOW MUCH DID THE MANUFACTURERS KNOW?
It is alleged that Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim knew about the potential cancer-causing link and willfully concealed it from public knowledge in order to keep profits from the sales rolling in. It is said to have been the first drug to ever reach $1 billion in sales.
ZANTAC CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT VS. INDIVIDUAL RANITIDINE LAWSUIT
A Zantac class action lawsuit can be filed by anyone who took the medication but hasn’t been diagnosed yet as having been harmed by it. As well, individual ranitidine lawsuits have been filed by injured and affected consumers and thousands more are expected to be filed.
A ranitidine lawsuit would seek compensation in the form of a personal injury claim against the manufacturers of Zantac for their injuries. A Zantac class action lawsuit would allow you to file a claim against the manufacturers without having to prove a cancer diagnosis or injury but only that the drug was purchased without information about the potential risks due to using the drug.
Laws vary from state to state, so talk to a knowledgeable attorney at Clayton Trial Lawyers. When you have a health issue and you are just trying to feel better and improve your health, but are misled by pharmaceutical companies who just want to make a profit, you need a knowledgeable attorney who is on your side. Joining in a Zantac class action lawsuit will ensure your voice is heard. Contact us today.