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(belchonock/DespositPhotos.com)A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggests that the popular heartburn medication Zantac may produce much more carcinogens than previously known.
The study looked at ranitidine, the molecule that makes Zantac and similar drugs effective. Researchers concluded that, when the ranitidine molecule is put in the human body, it releases n-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) – a potential human carcinogen.
Hundreds of lawsuits were filed by those who took Zantac and other ranitidine heartburn medications after it was revealed that they were contaminated with NDMA. Products were pulled from the shelves and ranitidine-based drugs are no longer sold in the U.S., but those who already took the drug may be concerned about the long term side effects.
Although a Florida federal judge recently released pharmacies and other retailers from a multidistrict litigation over Zantac cancer, claims remain against other companies. If you were diagnosed with cancer after taking Zantac you could join a lawsuit investigation.
The new Zantac study may add to these fears as scientists discovered that, in addition to NDMA contamination, the drug itself may produce the substance after it is ingested. Researchers concluded that ranitidine itself is inherently unstable, producing more than 6,000 times the amount of NDMA than what’s considered safe under current guidelines. And that’s just in one Zantac tablet.
The chief scientific officer of the company that conducted the study, Kaury Kucera, Ph.D., said that researchers “detected NDMA in every brand and every dosage form of ranitidine that we tested whether over the counter or prescription and regardless of manufacturer,” FiercePharma reported.
“This appears to be a fundamentally different problem than NDMA contamination found in drugs like valsartan and metformin because it occurs in every brand of ranitidine and is inherent to the molecule itself.”
The Zantac study researchers reportedly placed one 150-mg tablet of the cool mint version of the medication in a substance that mimicked stomach acid to see what it would produce. The Zantac produced much more NDMA than considered safe for human consumption, concluded the researchers after using several different concentrations of materials to assess the formation of the carcinogen under different conditions.
Zantac basics
Zantac (also known by its generic name, ranitidine hydrochloride) is a histamine-2 blocker, a medication used to prevent heartburn by reducing stomach acid. It is also used for certain related conditions. Zantac’s manufacturer and distributor is Sanofi, and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1983.
Now, more than thirty years later, the drug has been hit with a massive recall. The FDA has requested that all ranitidine products be removed from the market due to the NDMA contaminant.
Filing a Zantac cancer lawsuit
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer after exposure to Zantac, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by a cancer diagnosis, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.
Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.
Did you or a loved one take Zantac or similar heartburn medication? Are you concerned about the new Zantac study findings? Tell us what you think in the comment section below.
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55 thoughts onNew Zantac study says medication may be more carcinogenic than thought
I have taken this 2x a day for years. I have stomach issues now. I haven’t been diagnosed with Cancer but what about future problems? They need a class action lawsuit for people like us who has to worry about long term effects
I took Zantac for years
Please add me. I’m undergoing testing now for gastric bleeding and possible colon cancer.
Yes please add me, had been taking Zantac for years, and it began to make me sick, it caused stomach pain, eventually my prescription was changed.
Ive been prescribed this med for over 10 yrs and im still having to take it. Im vety concerned witj the long term effects for me will be. I have medical issues that I find build when more meds are introduced. I havent tested for cancer but I have many signs pointing to. Ill be contacting my PCP to do so.
Ive been prescribed this med for over 10 yrs and im still having to take it. Im vety concerned witj the long term effects for me will be. I have medical issues that I find build when more meds are introduced. I havent tested for cancer but I have many signs pointing to. Ill be contactingmy PC
I took Rantidine as a prescription for years. I was charged to Prilosec but was also given Rantidine (prescription) for break through heartburn. I stopped taking the prescription when I moved to another state. I thought the product was safe and I started taking Rantidine OTC, right up to the day it was pulled from the shelves..
Of course I’ve taken Zantac! Almost everyone I know has taken it! I knew something wasn’t right with that Zantac! I see it all of the time. Please, add me!
My husband and I both took it over the counter and through our doctor guess what I have an enlarged liver but no Cancer to date! Add us both too this list of we are VICTIMS also Dwight and Melody Cromer. We quit taking it imediately so like so many others we do have his bottle and doctors records to fall back on if need be!!
I was prescribed Ranitidine, thank God I haven’t developed cancer but I still think there needs to be a lawsuit against the manufacturer who distributed these medicines knowing that they could cause cancer. They should be held responsible!
I also was prescribed zantac and took in for more than 10yrs, no cancer thankfully. But to be put in danger like that is irresponsible and what about later on?