Zantac Side Effects and Cancer
Zantac (ranitidine hydrochloride) is an H2 blocker medication used for the treatment and prevention of ulcers. It has been widely prescribed for the relief of heartburn. The most common Zantac side effects include constipation, decreased sex drive, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, headaches, impotence, insomnia, male breast tenderness, muscle pain, nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting. These effects are generally mild and resolve within a few weeks.
Recently, reports of more serious Zantac side effects have emerged. The alleged link between Zantac and cancer is not well understood, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s announcement that they have detected low levels of a “probable human carcinogen” called Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in some Zantac products has prompted alarm. Zantac users with cancer may consider filing a Zantac lawsuit, citing parent company Sanofi’s “failure to warn” as legal grounds for compensation.
What is the Connection Between Zantac and Cancer?
Earlier this year, online pharmacy Valisure discovered the carcinogen in ranitidine. Zantac manufacturer Sanofi has criticized Valisure’s testing methods, but the FDA confirms that their testing using different methods has also shown higher-than-acceptable levels of NDMA. Though the FDA has said the NDMA is not much more than you would find in common foods like grilled meat, the suggested link between Zantac and cancer was enough to prompt ongoing investigation and a widespread recall.
Several studies, including Stanford University, The National Institute of Health, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, among others, have also raised serious concerns about NDMA. The connection between Zantac’s class of drug and cancer has also turned up in other observational studies. Scientists reported a “statistically significant” increased gastric cancer risk after five years of H2 blocker use. Though the results were far from conclusive, a closer investigation is certainly warranted.
Why Might Zantac Cause Cancer?
There are multiple theories about why Zantac side effects may include the development of cancer. Valisure technicians have suggested that it is “an inherent instability of the ranitidine molecule,” where it just falls apart into NDMA under certain conditions. This concern dates back to the 1980s. Furthermore, FDA testing has found NDMA in generic ranitidine, but not in alternative heartburn treatments like Nexium (esomeprazole), or Pepcid (famotidine).
The FDA has rejected the notion that ranitidine turns into NDMA once inside the body– instead suggesting there is a deficiency somewhere in the supply chain. The second theory is that there is a systemic problem with quality control– particularly in the generic drugs made in places like China and India– that is allowing contaminants into the drugs.
Which Cancers Do Zantac Users Have?
You may be eligible to file a
lawsuit if you were a regular Zantac user diagnosed with:
- Bladder Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
- Digestive Tract Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
Patients may not have any symptoms in the early stages of these cancers. Often, the diagnosis arrives after the cancer has already spread, causing widespread sickness.
Which Zantac Side Effects May Indicate Cancer?
Contact your healthcare provider if you encounter any of the following Zantac side effects:
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Bloating and fullness
- Blood in stools or vomit
- Changes in frequency, consistency, or shape of bowel movements
- Fatigue and mental fog
- Loss of appetite
- Low red blood cell count (anemia)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Unintentional weight loss
If You Are Suffering from Ranitidine Side Effects
When you go well beyond nausea and headaches, contact a Zantac lawyer at the Virginia-based firm of Rutter Mills for a free consultation. The first lawsuit against Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim was filed in September 2019 in the Northern District of California, alleging that the companies knowingly manufactured, marketed, and sold Zantac containing a concealed carcinogen to millions of Americans. Ranitidine side effects shouldn’t cost your family’s life savings.
Contact Rutter Mills Today
A successful personal injury lawsuit could result in compensation to cover all related medical bills, lost wages, and an estimation of pain and suffering. Our legal fee comes out of the money we secure on your behalf, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by exploring your legal options.
