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A Canadian class action lawsuit aims to hold numerous drug companies accountable for allegedly selling heartburn medication Zantac that was contaminated with a carcinogen.
The Zantac class action lawsuit was filed by M. Royer, a Quebec resident who reportedly purchased Zantac that was contaminated.
He aims to represent a Class of all Canadian residents who purchased the allegedly contaminated drug, and a subclass of all Quebec residents who did the same.
The Canada Zantac class action lawsuit names multiple drug companies as defendants, including Sanofi Consumer Health, GlaxoSmithKline, Sandoz Canada, Pharmascience, Apotex, Pro Doc, Sanis Health, and Sivem Pharmacueticals. The companies are all allegedly makers of contaminated Zantac, also sold in its generic form ranitidine.
According to Royer, Zantac is the best-selling drug in history due to the drug companies’ marketing. Allegedly, Zantac’s popularity in Canada was only possible because the drug companies misrepresented it to consumers as being a safe way to treat heartburn and gained profits from this deception.
The companies reportedly sell the drug throughout Canada without disclosing that it may contain N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a possible carcinogen. Royer stresses that the World Health Organization has deemed NDMA “clearly carcinogenic,” and Health Canada calls it a “probable human carcinogen.”
The carcinogen can appear in some foods and can be formed in the stomach during digestion of foods that contain alkylamine, a naturally occurring substance. However, Royer says that NDMA may be present in high levels in Zantac drugs and its presence may be dangerous to consumers. Allegedly, reports have discovered levels of NDMA in Zantac that may be as much as 26,000 times greater than safe levels.
Royer stresses that this could put many Canadian consumers at risk because many take Zantac over long periods of time and this extended use may increase the amount of NDMA that consumers could ingest. The plaintiff supports this by saying that when Zantac was tested “in conditions simulating the human stomach,” the amount of NMDA discovered was around 3,171 times more than what can be safely ingested on a daily basis.
The Canada Zantac class action lawsuit says that the drug companies knew or should have known that the drug was contaminated before they put it on the market.
Allegedly, multiple studies were published during the time that the companies manufactured and distributed the drug that showed the contamination. However, the companies reportedly failed to warn consumers despite their knowledge.
Similar concerns over contamination have affected U.S. consumers, as well. The drug has been subjected to some recalls as a result of the potential contamination.
Have you used Zantac or ranitidine? Let us know in the comment section below.
Royer is represented by Andrea Grass of the Consumer Law Group Inc.
The Canada Zantac NDMA Contamination Class Action Lawsuit is M. Royer v. Sanofi Consumer Health Inc., et al., Case No. 500-06-001023-197, in the Canada Superior Court in the Providence of Quebec for the District of Montreal.
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62 thoughts onCanada Zantac Class Action Filed Over Unsafe Levels of Carcinogen
I am 37 years old and been taking zantac almost daily for prob 10 years. I havent been diagnosed with cancer but am a little concerned. Have had some health issues in the past 5 years or so.
I have taken Zantac and Ranitidine for years
I have been on prescription Ranitidine for many years told to stop without reason!
I have been taking zantac and ranitidine since 2014 by prescription since then . Last September I heard about the volunteer recall and spoke to my pharmacy about it who called my Dr who had prescribed it for me. And he changed my meds. I take this because I had a stroke , followed by epileptic seizures and was then prescribed zantac to help because I must take keppra for my seizures.
Although throughout my years of taking zantac or ranitidine depending on which company made the ranitidine it sometimes made me more sick than without it at all. Know I take a new type of stomach pill and only when I really need it although I still take my keppra twice a day. Before I took the zantac for 5 years without missing a day twice a day in case it would bother me without question, especially since I saw that it was sold over the counter as well ,I figured it must be safe. My zantac was paid by my private insurance company for many years but they suddenly stopped paying it when it went over the counter in 2019 I believe. Or 2018. Before that date my private insurance company paid my real zantac then they stopped due to over the counter allowed so they paid only some types of ranitidine from some companies only I found that strange then they refused to pay any type of ranitidine my insurance company so I found this strange and my stomach felt worse when I took the zantac then without it . Know I take my keppra without stomach pills basically expect on certain days . I don’t know if this helps since my insurance pays my meds I can prove exactly what type of zantac I took most of the 5 years. With codes of medicine. How can I know if I have cancer or possible to get it later ? Or since I stopped taking it I am ok ? Don’t know if anyone can answer my questions I will ask my dr . My stomach feels normal since I stopped the zantac .
I have taken Zantac/Ranitidine on & off for many years & in 2015 lost a kidney to cancer. Now I’m wondering if my cancer was caused by taking this medication.
I have been prescribed ranitidine for many many years, 10 years+ and my wife has taken this over the counter for a long time too
Boohoo
My husband was prescribed ranitidine as far back as 2012. He has been diagnosed with stage four cancer.
I’ve been taking Zantac for many many years. I was shocked to find out about this. Very worried about possible negative heath issues this could cause me.
I have taken Zantac for years prescribed from my family doctor
I have taken Zantac for years!
My wife and I have taken Zantec for years.