Zantac is the brand name for heartburn medication that contains ranitidine. Zantac manufacturers are being sued by consumers who allege that taking Zantac caused them to develop cancer.
You can file a Zantac lawsuit if you meet certain criteria:
- You took Zantac either in prescription or over the counter form.
- You were recently diagnosed with cancer, particularly cancer of the liver, bladder, and stomach.
A lawyer who handles Zantac cases can help you understand your legal options.
Why Zantac Is Being Sued
Zantac and other ranitidine medications contain a chemical, N-nitrosodimethylamine or simply NDMA, that may become dangerous over long periods of time and in warmer temperatures.
Because NDMA is a known carcinogen, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits maximum daily intake of NDMA to 96 nanograms. (For reference, a nanogram is one-billionth of a single gram.)
An independent study by a pharmaceutical startup company found that over time and at higher temperatures, random samples of Zantac had over 3,000,000 nanograms per tablet.
This information prompted the FDA to issue a mandatory recall of Zantac and ranitidine medicines that contain NDMA.
Zantac Users Allege the Drug Caused Their Cancer
NDMA is a highly toxic substance that is used to induce tumors in laboratory test animals for cancer research purposes. People who used Zantac and were diagnosed with cancer believe that the manufacturers should have warned consumers about the potential danger.
You can file a Zantac lawsuit against a manufacturer because:
- The company owed you a duty of care to protect you from harmful substances.
- The company breached this duty of care by failing to warn consumers or take other reasonable actions to prevent illness or injury.
- This breach caused you to develop cancer; and
- A cancer diagnosis caused you to suffer damages in the form of medical bills, lost pay, and other losses.
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, there are more than a dozen companies that produce ranitidine heartburn medicine.
Zantac and Ranitidine Pharmaceutical Companies
The FDA has a list of all recalled medications on its website. They also have a list of manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies who produce or distribute Zantac and ranitidine medicines.
This list includes:
The following are known Zantac and ranitidine manufacturers:
- Aurobindo Pharma LTD
- Glenmark Pharms, Inc.
- Heritage Pharma
- Dr. Reddys Labs LTD
- Novitium Pharma
- Sandoz
- Strides Pharma
- Acic Pharms
- Appco
- VKT Pharma PVT LTD
- Wockhardt LTD
- Ajanta Pharma LTD
- Apotex
Growing Number of Zantac Lawsuits
In 2019, plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit sued Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim for damages. The plaintiffs alleged that the pharmaceutical companies should have known about the dangerous link between Zantac and developing cancer, according to Bloomberg News.
As of today, 141 Zantac lawsuits have been filed, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. There may be thousands of Zantac users coming forward to seek financial recovery and justice.
Cancers That Are Linked to Zantac Lawsuits
Plaintiffs who have filed lawsuits against Zantac allege that long-term use of the drug caused them to develop cancer.
These cancers include:
- Liver cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Lung cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Nasal/throat cancer
If you or a loved one used Zantac and have been diagnosed with cancer, you could be entitled to financial recovery.
How Long You Have to File a Zantac Lawsuit
You have a limited time to file a Zantac lawsuit. This time depends on which state you live in, since each state has its own statute of limitations. If you try to file a lawsuit after the statute of limitations has expired, it will likely be dismissed.
Zantac Recall Prompts Consumers to Seek Alternatives
Zantac has been on the market for more than twenty years. It was available first as a prescription and then over the counter.
Zantac was used to treat heartburn, acid indigestion, acid reflux, and even ulcers.
There are alternative heartburn medicines that do not contain NDMA. If you were taking prescription Zantac, you should check with your healthcare provider about the different alternatives. If you used over the counter Zantac, the Mayo Clinic suggests the following substitutes:
- Nexium (esomeprazole)
- Prevacid (lansoprazole)
- Prilosec (omeprazole)
You can also try drinking a mixture of one-quarter teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in a glass of water. This is a popular, old-fashioned home remedy for heartburn and sour stomach.
Call D. Miller & Associates, PLLC to Learn More
You could be entitled to financial recovery from a Zantac lawsuit. We invite you to call for a free case evaluation with a member of our team: (713) 850-8600.
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