Is the “New” Zantac Safe? Zantac is Back on the Shelves… Sorta
Is Zantac Back on the Market?
The Zantac brand of heartburn medication has returned to pharmacy and store shelves, but in a different form. Following a major recall and allegations that NDMA contamination in Zantac causes cancer, manufacturers have updated the Zantac formula to remove potentially dangerous ranitidine and replace it with another ingredient called famotidine.
The new Zantac is being marketed with a new name, as well — Zantac 360.
Zantac 360 is available over-the-counter in major pharmacies and other retailers.
Is Zantac 360 Safe?
As far as we know, yes, the “new” Zantac (called Zantac 360) is safe. The new version of Zantac contains the active ingredient famotidine, which is marketed as a safe alternative to ranitidine, which was included in now-recalled original Zantac medications. Unlike the original Zantac, the new Zantac 360 has no alleged cancer risk. Following the recall of Zantac, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) ordered widespread testing of other heartburn medications (known as proton pump inhibitors or PPIs). Famotidine, the new ingredient in Zantac 360, was not found to contain NDMA, which is the potentially cancer-causing chemical found in original Zantac.
Famotidine is the same ingredient that is used in another common heartburn medication, Pepcid AC.
Are there Any Side Effects of Zantac 360?
According to reports, Zantac 360 has few known side effects, which are rarely reported. A clinical study of famotidine found that relatively rare side effects included headache, dizziness, and constipation.
Why Was the Original Zantac Recalled?
The FDA issued a Zantac warning and ordered Zantac and generic ranitidine recalled in 2020 after independent lab testing found that certain lots of the medication were contaminated with NDMA, a cancer-causing chemical. The FDA’s own testing later confirmed these findings.
NDMA is a probable carcinogen that has been linked to as many as 20 different types of cancer.
Alarmingly, millions of people have taken brand-name Zantac or generic ranitidine since its introduction in 1983. In the wake of the recall and cancer warnings, thousands of Zantac lawsuits have been filed, alleging that manufacturers marketed a product with known safety risks and failed to warn consumers.
Zantac manufacturers like Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline strongly deny any negligence or wrongdoing.
Zantac cases were combined into multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Florida and the first trials are expected to begin in late 2021 or even 2022.
“Can I File a Zantac Lawsuit?”
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.
Although a “new” Zantac is back on the market, you may have a claim for compensation if you used the original, brand-name Zantac (or a combination of brand-name Zantac and generic ranitidine) and were later diagnosed with a qualifying cancer.
For a FREE, no-obligation consultation with an experienced Zantac lawsuit lawyer, please call 1-800-525-7111 or complete the fast and easy form below.
There are no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we win your Zantac lawsuit and you receive compensation. That’s our promise to you. Since 1985, our experienced trial attorneys have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for victims of others’ negligence, and we would love to help however we can (see disclaimer below).
You may qualify for a Zantac lawsuit if you meet the following criteria:
- Used brand-name Zantac only
- Suffered from at least one of the following cancers:
- Bladder cancer
- Liver cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Must have used brand-name Zantac after October 1984
- Must have used brand-name Zantac for a minimum of one year
- Must have used brand-name Zantac once per week for a minimum of six months
- Must have been diagnosed with a qualifying cancer within 20 years of last dose
- Must not have been a smoker in the past 20 years if diagnosed with lung cancer
- Must be 64 years of age or younger at the time of diagnosis if diagnosed with prostate cancer
Certain other criteria may apply. For a FREE, no-obligation consultation with an experienced Zantac lawsuit attorney, please call 1-800-525-7111.
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.
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.
Call 1-800-525-7111 and let’s review your claim.
“This settlement changed me and my family’s lives.”
–Linda B., Riddle & Brantley client
Justice Counts.
*** 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: 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).