If you know you need the help of a medicine to address a stomach acid condition but are concerned about the dangers of Zantac, there are other options available to you. All drugs, even over the counter medications, come with the risk of side effects. If it impacts too many, it can even lead to a Zantac recall.

What’s the Danger with Zantac?

The reason that many people are looking for an alternative to Zantac is because the FDA is investigating whether or not Zantac contains a likely carcinogen. That carcinogen is NDMA, which can increase a person’s chances of developing cancer in the event of high levels of exposure. According to multiple tests on generic and brand name versions of the drug, Zantac may be contaminated.

If I’m on Zantac, Should I Stop Taking It?

In April 2020, the FDA requested that all retailers remove brand name and generic Zantac from store shelves. Prior to the request, many retailers had already done so. Additionally, the FDA has advised consumers who are taking the medication to speak to their doctor about finding an alternative to Zantac and cease taking any stockpiles of the medication they may have already purchased. Consumers are recommended to throw these medications away by mixing them with coffee grounds or cat litter, in order to prevent children or animals from ingesting the pills.

While it was initially assumed that the contamination had occurred during the manufacturing process for Zantac, it is now believed that Zantac may produce NDMA as a byproduct.

According to some research, Zantac may be chemically unstable and prone to breaking down. When it does break down, it may form NDMA, which would explain why Zantac manufactured at many different factories has been found to be contaminated. Additionally, storing the medication at an improper temperature may increase the speed at which it breaks down. This means that any Zantac may potentially be contaminated with the carcinogen.

If I Want to Change Medicines, What Should I Look For?

Patients should know how Zantac works and what it includes to make the right decision. Ranitidine is an H2-blocker, meaning that it decreases stomach acid. This blocks the inflammatory agents in the body from triggering the stomach to generate stomach acid.

If you’re looking for a way to relieve heartburn symptoms, other H2 blockers and antacids could help to manage those conditions. Another option for those suffering is to use proton pump inhibitors which are designed to treat acid reflux and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

A drug like Prilosec carries the benefit of relieving symptoms for a longer period of time, as much as 72 hours.

Are There Any Natural Remedies to Replace Zantac?

Although taking medications put many patients on the fast track to healing, medicines sold over the counter and with a prescription often carry many side effects and risks, especially when those medicines are overused.

More patients are concerned about side effects related to standard medications and are seeking out “natural” alternatives. This can include other medicines with fewer side effects or natural healing options.

One possible alternative to Zantac is to consider taking different medications or herbal remedies that could avoid some of the potential risks of Zantac.

Treating acid reflux is a common concern for people who suffer from heartburn on an ongoing basis. However, recent research has shown that these proton pump inhibitors, which are frequently used to treat acid reflux and heartburn may cause much more severe side effects than previously anticipated.

Other research has discovered that only around 30 percent of the people who are taking these medications actually need to rely on those medicines, which means the remaining 70 percent of people could benefit from lifestyle, diet, and natural therapies for acid reflux.

Some of the easiest ways to minimize the condition of acid reflux without taking Zantac include identifying and avoiding foods that trigger heartburn symptoms, losing weight around the body’s abdomen, using a digestive enzyme supplement, healing inflamed gastric tissues, and minimizing stress.

Many sufferers find they can often keep a lot of the food they eat and reduce the severity of the heartburn they experience after they go through a process of eliminating triggers.

Why Is Zantac Being Investigated?

Although there are no firm results yet about the potential for cancer risk, consumers are interested in an alternative to Zantac because the investigation itself is alarming.

The possibility of contamination was first shared by an online pharmacy, Valisure. The FDA followed that up with tests showing that some forms of ranitidine medicines carried low levels of NDMA. The level of NDMA found in each Zantac tablet varied. However, one tablet was found to contain 3,000 times more NDMA than allowed by the FDA. This contamination led to a voluntary recall.

Zantac was at one time the most popular medication in the world. The prescription ranitidine is approved for a few different kinds of medical conditions. Around 15 million people are estimated to be prescribed the drug each year. As Zantac has been taken by millions of people since its introduction to the market in 1984, countless victims may have developed cancer or other side effects due to exposure to the contaminated medication.

There are also some early indications that the way NDMA goes into the body and has the potential to cause even more health issues. Following the FDA testing of the products, the CEO of Valisure shared that the data from the company show that the levels of NDMA in the body that can be formed over time could be much higher than what is currently referenced in news stories about the contamination.

What Is NDMA?

NDMA has been in headlines in relation to potential contamination of popular blood pressure medications like valsartan. NDMA has already been flagged as an environmental contaminant that can be identified in meats, vegetables, and dairy products.

However, more recently, the contaminant has been identified as occurring during various pharmaceutical processes such as the manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients. As a result, several medications have been recalled in recent years due to NDMA contamination.

When NDMA is inside a product in very high levels, it can lead to health problems. One of the most concerning consequences of NDMA exposure in the increased risk of cancer.

Although the increased risk of cancer is relatively low, most patients would agree that any increased risk is too much. Even if they do not get cancer from exposure, patients who take a medication contaminated with NDMA may experience disruption and issues with their medications.

If medications are recalled, they may need to switch their supplier or the type of medication that they take. Erin Michos, director of women’s cardiovascular health and associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University, says that switching these medications can be a hassle and can even cause problems with treatment plans.

“These are patients that were stable on their medications,” Michos said in a statement to C&EN. “Suddenly you’re switching their meds around, and now they have to kind of start over with trying to find the right dose.”

Michos also says that the issues caused by NDMA contamination can lead to a loss of trust between patients, doctors, and the pharmaceutical industry. If patients are scared of getting cancer, they may not take their medication – leading to other health problems. Patients may also be resistant to trying other medications due to a bad experience or a recall, which can lead to similar consequences.