According to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia’s drug regulatory body, approximately 75 percent of Zantac may be contaminated with a probable carcinogen known as NDMA.

Probable Carcinogen Found in Contaminated Zantac

The TGA initially published the news of the Zantac contamination in September 2019, along with the announcement that several Zantac products would be removed from the Australian market due to the impurity.

The TGA conducted testing on 135 batches of Zantac and generic ranitidine drugs to determine the extent of the contamination. According to this testing, approximately three-quarters of the ranitidine on the market may be affected by the impurity, NDMA. NDMA is a probable carcinogen, likely to have the ability to cause cancer in humans.

While it is currently unknown what is causing the impurity, it may be related to the way the drug breaks down or an issue with the manufacturing process.

As manufacturers of contaminated Zantac have been identified in at least five countries, it may be more likely that the impurity is due to the drug itself. ABC News Australia reports that, according to Dean of Pharmacy Andrew McLachlan at the University of Sydney, “It’s quite possible that this break down product coming from that drug has probably been in those products for quite some time.”

In addition to brand name Zantac, generic ranitidine, the active chemical in the drug, has also been recalled from the market. Three pharmaceutical manufacturers of generic ranitidine sold at Walmart, Walgreens, and Rite Aid issued recalls for these products. Contaminated Zantac and generic ranitidine has been recalled from hospitals, pharmacies, wholesale retailers, supermarkets, and online stores.

About NDMA

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NDMA, or N-Nitrosodimethylamine, is a type of compound commonly found in drinking water, air pollution, smoked and cured meats, and a variety of other food types. While some exposure to NDMA is likely to occur to almost everyone, repeated exposures may result in dangerous health side effects and consequences.

According to recent lawsuits filed by victims who routinely took Zantac, repeated exposures to the impurity may result in cancers including bladder and stomach cancer.

Additional NDMA side effects may include liver damage such as an enlarged liver or reduced liver function, damage to the kidneys or lungs, dizziness, headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, or jaundice.

About Zantac

Zantac is a popular type of heartburn medication used to reduce stomach acid, prevent acid reflux, and treat ulcers.

The drug has been on the market as a heartburn medication since the 1980s and is taken by approximately 15 million people per year in the U.S. While the FDA has not recommended that patients who routinely take Zantac stop taking the drug, other medications may be available to treat heartburn and other acid-related problems.

If you have developed serious health side effects including stomach or bladder cancer after taking contaminated Zantac, you may be eligible to hire a qualified attorney and pursue a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer. Victims may be able to recover financial compensation for medical expenses, injuries, pain and suffering, and other damages.