Cancer-Causing Chemical Found in Zantac

According to data from laboratory testing of Zantac, a common over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription heartburn drug, the medication is contaminated with a cancer-causing chemical. N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a chemical used in petroleum-based industrial products. During lab tests, researchers detected NDMA levels more than 3,170 times greater than the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) daily intake limit.

The Environmental Protection Association, or EPA, classifies N-nitrosodimethylamine as a probable human carcinogen. A carcinogen is a cancer-causing agent. Considering that NDMA was formerly used to produce rocket fuel, is still used as a research chemical, and is a known carcinogen, it is absolutely unacceptable that Zantac users regularly ingested it in large amounts.

NDMA can cause a variety of cancers, such as:

• Pancreatic cancer,
• Testicular cancer,
• Kidney cancer,
• Stomach and intestinal cancer,
• Esophageal cancer,
• Bladder cancer, and:
• Colorectal cancer

Together, the FDA and numerous European health agencies are warning people about the possibly life threatening dangers of taking Zantac. In the UK, the heartburn medication has been recalled and healthcare professionals have been instructed to immediately stop supplying it to patients. Individuals who took Zantac (not a generic version) regularly for at least 60 days are at a higher risk for the medication’s cancer-causing side effects.

Zantac has been around for decades – and it has always been one of the most popular heartburn drugs on the market. After the FDA conducted testing on Zantac, the agency began recommending that users consider opting for a different treatment option because of the associated cancer risks. Tests showed no NDMA in other popular heartburn medications like Pepcid, Nexium, Prilosec, and Prevacid.

Although Zantac has not yet been recalled, three of the largest pharmaceutical chains (CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens) in the United States have decided to stop selling it. The FDA is now investigating what happens to the active ingredients of Zantac inside the body after ingestion. According to David Light, the CEO of Valisure: “in a variety of conditions – conditions of the lab, conditions of the human body – it [Zantanc] can break down and then form the carcinogen, NDMA.” While additional analysis is still critical, Zantac should be pulled from the shelves in order to protect people now.

If you regularly used Zantac and were diagnosed with cancer, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Please contact a representative at our firm who can direct your call and answer your questions.

Philadelphia Products Liability Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP Represent Injured Individuals

If you or a loved one experienced injuries associated with an unreasonably unsafe product, please contact the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Galfand Berger. With offices located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. To schedule a consultation, call us at 800-222-8792 or complete our online contact form.