Like thousands of others, do you suffer from occasional heartburn, indigestion, or acid reflux? Have you been diagnosed with stomach ulcers? If so, you may have been prescribed Zantac or you may have purchased an over-the-counter (OTC) version of Zantac, or a similar generic version, to help ease your pain. While Zantac may have been effective at fighting your heartburn or ulcer symptoms, what harm did that drug also potentially do to your body?
NDMA HAS A LINK TO CANCER
NDMA (N-Nitrosodimethylamine) is a known carcinogen linked to possibly causing a variety of cancers and liver disease. Zantac was made in 75 mg. and 150 mg. doses, but many people took 300 mg. per day to help ease their symptoms. It has been stated that at 300 mg. per day, that dose is 3,000 times the recommended daily limit. Even in relatively small doses, the medication can be very detrimental to the body’s health. Taken for a long period of time, however, the increased exposure to the chemical raises the probability that cancer will result. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Toxicology Program (NTP) have all attested to the fact that NDMA is a carcinogen and harmful to human health. It has been proven time and again in laboratory settings. At this point, it’s pretty much a given.
RANITIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Ranitidine hydrochloride, or Zantac, is an H2 blocker that is known to fight acid build-up, which can be part of an acid reflux condition. Laboratory testing has shown that NMDA levels increase over time, and with increased usage. If the medication is stored in a higher temperature environment, levels of the chemical can also increase.
TYPES OF CANCER KNOWN TO BE CAUSED BY ZANTAC/RANITIDINE
Several types of cancers have been linked to taking the medication Zantac or one of its affiliated generic equivalents. These cancers include:
- Stomach cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer (among non-smokers)
- Kidney cancer
- Colon cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Intestinal cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Brain cancer
- Breast cancer
ZANTAC CANCER SYMPTOMS
Zantac cancer symptoms include nausea, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, and headaches. If you have taken Zantac for an extended period of time (let’s say three months or more), and if you are concerned about the possibility of having contracted cancer from this use but you haven’t received a diagnosis yet, some signs to watch for include:
- Blood in your urine
- A bloating of full feeling
- A loss of appetite
- A pain in your side that won’t go away
- Extreme fatigue
- Unintentional weight loss
- A fever that lasts for weeks but not caused by an infection
- A lump in your abdomen or side
WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS?
Consumers have a right to believe that medications will have been tested and proven before being put on sale for public consumption. You have a right to expect that pharmaceutical companies will have done their due diligence to ensure public safety. When they discover an ingredient that may injure the public’s health, they have an obligation to remove that product from store shelves until such time as it can be re-tested and/or another ingredient found to replace the harmful one that could potentially cause dire consequences for its users, perhaps even death.
The manufacturers of dangerous drugs should be held accountable for their actions, and you can do just that when you file a Zantac cancer lawsuit.
If you have taken Zantac for three months or more, have been diagnosed with cancer since taking the medication, or have the symptoms listed above which lead you to believe your health may have been compromised from use of the medication, call an attorney at Clayton Trial Lawyers today. Don’t wait – file a Zantac cancer lawsuit now to try to recover the compensation you deserve.