Ranitidine (Zantac) Products Recalled After Dangerous Levels of Carcinogen NDMA Detected
Ranitidine, which is the generic name for the medication most often sold as Zantac, is one of the most popular heartburn medications in the U.S. Alarmingly for the millions who take it, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Sep. 13 that low levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a probable human carcinogen, were detected in preliminary tests of ranitidine. The announcement came four days after the Connecticut-based online pharmacy Valisure submitted a notice to the FDA alerting them of “extremely high levels” of NDMA detected in multiple ranitidine medications, including Zantac. After conducting additional testing, the FDA revealed on Oct. 2 that it had found “unacceptable levels” of NDMA in ranitidine medications.
In response, multiple drug makers have issued voluntarily recalls of certain ranitidine medications as a safety precaution. Here are the ranitidine medication recalls that have been confirmed by the FDA as of Oct. 30:
- Sandoz Inc. (recall issued Sep. 23): Ranitidine 150 mg capsules (30, 60 and 500-count)
- Apotex Corp. (recall issued Sep. 25): Ranitidine 75 and 150 mg tablets (all pack sizes)
- Sanofi (recall issued Oct. 22): Zantac 150®, Zantac 150® Cool Mint and Zantac 75® over-the-counter medications
- Perrigo Co. (recall issued Oct. 23): Ranitidine over-the-counter medications (all pack sizes)
- Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (recalled issued Oct. 23): Ranitidine over-the-counter medications (expiration dates between September 2019 and June 2021)
- Lennet Company, Inc. (recall issued Oct. 25): Ranitidine Syrup (Ranitidine Oral Solution, USP), 15mg/mL
- Novitium (recall issued Oct. 25): Ranitidine Hydrochloride prescription capsules (30, 60, 100 and 500-count)
On April 1, 2020, the FDA requested that all Ranitidine (Zantac) products be removed from the market.
What’s Known about the Probable Carcinogen NDMA
N-nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, is a potentially cancer-causing chemical agent used in rocket fuel, gasoline and as an additive to lubricants. It is also a known environmental contaminant that has been found in water and foods such as dairy products, meats and vegetables. In Valisure’s initial letter to the FDA, it noted that “the [FDA] has established a permissible daily intake limit for the probable human carcinogen, NDMA, of 96 ng. Valisure has detected NDMA in excess of 3,000,000 ng per tablet when analyzing ranitidine products.” In other words, Valisure researchers detected over 30,000 times the recommended daily intake limit of NDMA in some ranitidine medications.
Peer-reviewed studies of NDMA have linked the chemical to numerous types of cancer, including:
● Bladder Cancer
● Brain Cancer
● Breast Cancer
● Colon and Rectal Cancer
● Esophageal/Throat/Nasal Cancer
● Intestinal Cancer
● Kidney Cancer
● Liver Cancer
● Ovarian Cancer
● Pancreatic Cancer
● Prostate Cancer
● Stomach Cancer
● Testicular Cancer
● Thyroid Cancer
● Uterine Cancer
Stomach and bladder cancers have been most frequently associated with ranitidine consumption.
Were you or a Loved One Diagnosed with Cancer After Taking Ranitidine (Zantac)?
If you or a loved one developed cancer after taking Zantac or another ranitidine medication, contact the experienced defective drug and toxic chemical exposure attorneys at Young & Partners, LLP to discuss your legal options. You may be entitled to receive compensation for medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering and other damages associated with your cancer diagnosis.
About the Firm
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Young & Partners’ practice is national in scope, as we have trusted co-counsel relationships with leading law firms in all fifty states.
Founding Partner Tom Young has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for victims of various major disasters over the past 20 years, including the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the 2015 Volkswagen “dieselgate” emissions scandal, recent devastating hurricanes along the East Coast, and the ongoing nationwide opioid epidemic. Young holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Economics and a Juris Doctor, with Honors, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. While there, Young was one of the first students awarded a Certificate in Environmental & Land Use Law. Young’s practice includes educating and assisting consumers, businesses, nonprofit organizations and government entities in understanding their rights as they pertain to losses due to negligence or disaster, in both state and federal court. Importantly, we only represent plaintiffs, not defendants, and never insurance companies.
Recently, Young turned his attention to providing legal services to individuals suffering from failed hernia mesh surgical procedures. Many such hernia mesh products on the market are subpar and fail at unacceptable rates. Young represents those who have required follow up revision surgery to remove or replace failing mesh.
He is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, the Golden Key International Honor Society, the Florida Bar, the District of Columbia Bar, the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., the Florida Justice Association, and the American Association for Justice (formerly the Academy of Trial Lawyers of America). Young was the 2012-2018 President of the Civil Justice Foundation and a former AAJ state delegate.