Does Zantac Cause Cancer?
Since late 2019, the FDA, independent labs, patients and doctors have struggled with the question: “Does Zantac cause cancer?”
While FDA investigation and independent research is ongoing, the popular heartburn medication Zantac may be contaminated with NDMA, a chemical that is known to cause cancer. To be clear, the NDMA levels detected in testing by independent labs and the FDA indicate that taking Zantac may place patients at increased risk of cancer.
Zantac is one of the best-selling drugs in American history and contaminated Zantac may have caused cancer in thousands of patients. According to a recent report, an estimated 15 million Americans take ranitidine in prescription form (either Zantac or generic ranitidine equivalents), and millions more take over-the-counter (OTC), lower-dose ranitidine-containing medications.
The FDA has issued an urgent order to manufacturers requesting them not to sell Zantac or generic equivalents of the popular heartburn medication, saying that potential NDMA contamination may place patients at risk of developing cancer.
FEBRUARY 2023 UPDATE: Due to recent developments in the litigation, our firm is no longer accepting Zantac claims. Please stay tuned to our website for the latest information and updates.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a serious and fast-moving situation that Riddle & Brantley’s Zantac lawsuit attorneys continue to monitor. If you have taken brand-name Zantac and been diagnosed with cancer, you may be eligible for a Zantac lawsuit and we may be able to help. Please call 1-800-525-7111 for a FREE, no-obligation consultation. There are no attorney fees unless we win your case and you receive financial compensation.
IMPORTANT: A federal judge recently ruled against lawsuits concerning generic Zantac. At this point, we can only accept cases concerning use of brand-name Zantac OR “mixed” use of brand-name Zantac and generic equivalents.
PLEASE NOTE: At this time, the federal MDL has limited the Zantac claims we can accept to bladder, esophageal, stomach, liver, and pancreatic cancers only. We understand that other cancers may be linked, but we are unfortunately unable to assist with these claims at this time due to evidence and recent court rulings.
Serious Cancer Risk from Potential NDMA Contamination in Zantac
The possibility that Zantac may cause cancer stems from laboratory testing in 2019 that first uncovered elevated levels of NDMA in ranitidine. On September 13, 2019, the independent lab Valisure filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), demanding that the agency recall all products containing ranitidine, including Zantac.
“There is no acceptable cancer risk for a drug like this,”
-David Light, CEO, Valisure
Follow-up testing by other labs and the FDA also determined elevated levels of the potentially cancer-causing chemical NDMA in Zantac and other ranitidine-containing medications.
While previous testing seemed to indicate that long-term storage of ranitidine or Zantac at higher temperatures may increase the accumulation of NDMA, the FDA warned in April 2020 that “NDMA levels increase in ranitidine even under normal storage conditions.”
According to an FDA alert, “The testing also showed that the older a ranitidine product is, or the longer the length of time since it was manufactured, the greater the level of NDMA.”
“These conditions,” the FDA said, “may raise the level of NDMA in the ranitidine product above the acceptable daily intake limit.”
What is NDMA?
N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is an organic compound that is highly toxic and considered a probable carcinogen, meaning that it may cause cancer.
According to the FDA, low levels of NDMA are commonly ingested in the diet and are not typically associated with increased risk of cancer. However, “sustained higher levels of exposure may increase the risk of cancer in humans.”
Does Zantac heartburn medication cause cancer?
With the FDA ramping up warnings and Zantac lawsuits entering Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) proceedings in the Southern District of Florida, thousands of patients are understandably concerned about the possibility that Zantac may cause cancer.
While this is a fast-moving situation and new information is emerging on a near-daily basis, what is clear is that NDMA contamination has been detected in many Zantac and other ranitidine-containing medication samples, and NDMA is known to cause cancer.
Consumers and patients taking over-the-counter or prescription Zantac or ranitidine are advised to exercise extreme caution as follows:
“I take Zantac. What should I do?”
If you take prescription Zantac or generic ranitidine:
The FDA advises you to talk with your prescribing doctor immediately. Many potential alternatives are available that have not tested positive for NDMA contamination.
If you take lower-dose over-the-counter (OTC) Zantac or ranitidine-containing medication:
The FDA advises you to stop taking the drug immediately and consider possible Zantac alternatives.
COVID-19 UPDATE: Due to the coronavirus epidemic and the possibility of contracting COVID-19, the FDA urges consumers to throw away OTC Zantac and ranitidine medications instead of bringing them to a drug take-back location. Please follow the disposal instructions included in your medication guide or product packaging.
Have you taken Zantac and been diagnosed with cancer?
FEBRUARY 2023 UPDATE: Due to recent developments in the litigation, our firm is no longer accepting Zantac claims. Please stay tuned to our website for the latest information and updates.
If you’ve taken brand-name Zantac and been diagnosed with cancer, potential NDMA contamination may be responsible and you may be entitled to financial compensation.
Our Zantac lawsuit lawyers are actively investigating these claims and we would love to help you if we can.
For a FREE, no-obligation consultation with an experienced dangerous drugs lawyer handling Zantac claims, please call 1-800-525-7111 or complete the short form below.
There are no upfront costs or attorney fees unless we win your case and you receive financial compensation.
Please call 1-800-525-7111 today and let’s review your eligibility for a potential Zantac cancer lawsuit.
Potential cancers that may qualify you for a Zantac cancer lawsuit include:
PLEASE NOTE: At this time, the federal MDL has limited the Zantac claims we can accept to bladder, esophageal, stomach, liver, and pancreatic cancers only. We understand that other cancers may be linked, but we are unfortunately unable to assist with these claims at this time due to evidence and recent court rulings.
The Zantac lawsuit attorneys at Riddle & Brantley have been holding potentially negligent pharmaceutical companies accountable for more than three decades. We have won many five, six and even seven-figure settlements and verdicts for our deserving clients, and we’re proud of the word our clients use to describe working with our firm (see disclaimer below):
“They turned a heartbreaking situation completely around.”
-Tonya Taylor, Riddle & Brantley client
If you’ve taken brand-name Zantac and been diagnosed with cancer, the experienced dangerous drug attorneys at Riddle & Brantley may be able to help.
Our team is led by attorney Gene Riddle, who is a member of the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Super Lawyers, and The National Trial Lawyers Top 100. He is additionally rated as AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell and is the recipient of the 2014 Litigator Award (see disclaimer below).
We believe Justice Counts and are committed to helping victims of negligence get the justice and compensation they deserve.
For a FREE, no-obligation case review concerning a potential Zantac lawsuit, please call 1-800-525-7111.
We would love to help you and your loved ones however we can.
IMPORTANT: A federal judge recently ruled against lawsuits concerning generic Zantac. At this point, we can only accept cases concerning use of brand-name Zantac.
***Disclaimer: No settlement agreement has been reached in any litigation regarding ranitidine (ZANTAC®), including in the Multidistrict Litigation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (case no. 20-MD-2924).
*** Disclaimer: The results mentioned are intended to illustrate the type of cases handled by the firm. These results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and they should not be construed to constitute a promise or guarantee of a particular result in any particular case. Every case is different, and the outcome of any case depends upon a variety of factors unique to that case.
*** Disclaimer: An attorney must meet certain requirements to join these organizations or receive these awards. For more information on Membership Criteria for Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Super Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, AV Preeminent from Martindale-Hubbell, and the Litigator Award, please visit our Membership Criteria page. These awards and memberships should not be construed as a promise or guarantee of a similar result. Each case is different and must be evaluated separately.