Zantac Lawsuits Lawyer in Alabama
The popular heartburn medicine Zantac (ranitidine) has been recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which says a contaminant in Zantac known as N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) may cause cancer.
The FDA has determined that the impurity may increase over time and when stored at higher than room temperatures. This may result in unacceptable levels of the cancer-causing compound, an FDA news release says.
The FDA announced in April that it was calling upon manufacturers to withdraw all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) ranitidine drugs from the market immediately.
The FDA is advising consumers to stop taking the medication, including any unused portions that they may still have at home.
In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA recommends patients and consumers follow the specific disposal instructions in the medication guide or package insert or follow the agency’s recommended steps, which include ways to safely dispose of these medications at home. It’s better to dispose of the medicine at home rather than take the medicines to a drug take-back location at the present time.
The product liability lawyers at Gartlan Injury Law are reviewing Zantac cancer claims on behalf of individuals and their families in Dothan and Houston counties and throughout Alabama who have used Zantac or other OTC or prescription ranitidine medications and developed cancer. Under the law, drug manufacturers have a duty to ensure that the medicines they produce are safe and effective when used as directed and to warn of any known side effects.
If you or someone you know has developed stomach cancer, bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer or colorectal cancer after using Zantac or a generic equivalent medication, contact our defective product attorneys immediately for a free case evaluation.
What is Zantac (ranitidine)?
Zantac and generic equivalents are used to treat heartburn, acid indigestion, sour stomach and acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD). In prescription form, ranitidine is used to treat ulcers of the stomach and intestines and to prevent intestinal ulcers from coming back after they have healed.
Zantac is an H2 (histamine-2) blocker that inhibits the action of histamine on the cells, thus reducing the production of acid by the stomach.
Zantac is manufactured by Sanofi, which says it has voluntarily recalled the product in the U.S. and Canada.
The FDA first warned the public in September 2019 of the potential risks of Zantac and ranitidine, and suggested consumers consider alternative treatments.
CVS Pharmacy suspended sales of all Zantac brand and CVS Health brand ranitidine products in September. Equate brands sold at Walmart and Member’s Mark brands sold at Sam’s Club were removed from store shelves and online sales in October 2019.
Zantac (ranitidine) and Prilosec (omeprazole) are used to treat the same medical problems, but are different drugs. Prilosec is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that blocks the production of acid by the stomach.
In a December 2019 update, the FDA said its testing has not found NDMA in Prilosec (omeprazole) or other stomach acid-control alternatives, Pepcid (famotidine), Tagamet (cimetidine), Nexium (esomeprazole) and Prevacid (lansoprazole).
What Kind of Cancer is Linked to Zantac (ranitidine)?
Low levels of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), the probable carcinogen found in Zantac, are commonly ingested in foods and water. At low levels typically found in food, NDMA would not be expected to cause an increased risk of cancer, the FDA says. However, sustained higher levels of exposure may increase the risk of cancer in humans.
The World Health Organization says there is evidence that NDMA is a potent carcinogen in experimental animals. The International Association for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies NDMA as probably carcinogenic in humans.
The FDA, which is continuing to investigate NDMA, does not specify a type of cancer its consumption could cause. But WHO says the results of several case-control studies and one cohort study of NDMA in humans that used estimations of total dietary intake of NDMA support the assumption that NDMA consumption is positively associated with either gastric (stomach) or colorectal cancer.
Long-term oral ingestion of a probable carcinogen, such as NDMA in ranitidine, could potentially cause cancer in the digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, duodenum / small intestine, colon / large intestine, rectum) or filtering organs (liver, kidneys).
How Can an Alabama Product Liability Lawyer Help?
Pharmaceutical companies have a duty to ensure that their drugs are safe for use and to warn adequately of known side effects. If taking a medication poses a foreseeable risk, the manufacturer has to provide adequate warning. Failure to do so may be grounds for a lawsuit.
A civil lawsuit offers a way for victims and their loved ones to hold drug manufacturers accountable and to seek compensation for the harm caused by the unsafe drug.
When a widely used product such as Zantac is demonstrated to be unsafe and linked to serious harm, many lawsuits may be filed against the manufacturer. These are complicated lawsuits requiring extensive investigation of the product and gathering of scientific evidence. It is important to work with a law firm that has the resources to pursue product liability cases.
Members of the Gartlan Injury Law legal team are seasoned product liability lawyers who will fight aggressively to protect your rights. We have the extensive experience with defective product and dangerous drug litigation necessary to assess your case and determine the best way for your claim to move forward. We are fully prepared to deal effectively with drug manufacturers and their corporate legal teams.
If you or a family member took Zantac regularly and developed gastric or colorectal cancer or some other cancer of the digestive tract, liver or kidneys, you may be able to recover compensation for the financial costs and emotional distress you have suffered.
Contact our Zantac Lawsuits Lawyer in Alabama
Gartlan Injury Law in Dothan, Alabama, offers free initial consultations about product liability claims and is accepting cases regarding Zantac and other medications made with the potentially cancer-causing compound NDMA. Our seasoned attorneys can help you build a case and fight vigorously to recover the compensation you and your family deserve to have.
Call us now at (334) 600-1676 to set up a free consultation with us.
