Zantac
If you have been harmed due to taking the drug Zantac, file a Zantac Lawsuit today. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently recalled the popular heartburn medication Zantac due to its link to various forms of cancer. Call Today!
What is Zantac?
Zantac belongs to a group of drugs called histamine-2 blockers. It works by reducing the amount of acid your stomach produces.
Zantac has been used to treat and prevent ulcers in the stomach and intestines. It also was used to treat conditions in which the stomach produces too much acid, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome..
Zantac was also used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other conditions in which acid backs up from the stomach into the esophagus, causing heartburn.
A cancer-causing impurity found in many ranitidine medications may increase to unacceptable levels over time and when ranitidine is stored at high temperatures. As a result, the FDA has asked all makers of ranitidine to withdraw this medicine from the market in the United States.
How Does Zantac (Ranitidine) Work?
Zantac (ranitidine) belongs to a class of acid-blocking drugs called H2 blockers. The active ingredient, ranitidine, works by blocking a chemical called histamine. This reduces the amount of acid in the stomach.
The drug starts to work in as little as 30 minutes. It can control acid production for up to 12 hours and reduce the frequency and severity of heartburn.
Zantac made with ranitidine was used to treat a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, including heartburn, GERD and gastric ulcers.
What Is Zantac Used For?
Zantac (ranitidine) is a histamine-2 receptor agonist, or H2 blocker. H2 blockers lower stomach acid. They work fast and can stop the symptoms of heartburn in as little as 30 minutes. Zantac can control acid for up to 12 hours, reducing the severity and frequency of heartburn. Doctors prescribe Zantac to treat or relieve heartburn, acid indigestion, GERD and gastric ulcers.
But after the FDA found the potential carcinogen NDMA in some batches of Zantac, it requested all manufacturers withdraw all Zantac made with ranitidine from the market. As of April 2020, Zantac made with ranitidine is no longer available on the US market.
Several other drug companies have been involved in selling it over the years, including Boehringer Ingelheim, Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi SA. Sanofi created a new formula made with famotidine called Zantac360, which is available over-the-counter in the US.
What Are the Common Side Effects of Zantac (Ranitidine)?
Zantac is a medication often used to relieve heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). It is an antacid medication that blocks the production of stomach acid. Zantac is available over-the-counter (OTC) for heartburn relief. It is also available by prescription.
Common side effects of Zantac are:
- Chest pain
- Constipation
- Dark urine
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Jaundice
- Nausea
- Rash
- Shortness of breath
What is NDMA?
N-Nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, is an organic chemical that is classified as a cancer-causing substance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the World Health Organization (WHO). It is not intentionally produced in America but can be accidentally created as a by-product of various chemical reactions, either naturally or in the manufacturing process.
Exposure to very small amounts of NDMA can come from many common sources and is typically harmless. However, NDMA has recently been found in higher, potentially dangerous levels in certain medications, such as Zantac.
Does Zantac cause cancer?
It is possible that Zantac can cause cancer, though it is not listed as one of the drug’s potential side effects. Zantac has recently been found to contain unacceptably high levels of the nitrosamine impurity N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). This substance is classified by the FDA as a “probable human carcinogen,” meaning that it could likely cause cancer in humans upon exposure. However, research is still ongoing in an attempt to draw a definitive link to Zantac use and the development of cancer.
Acute side effects of NDMA overexposure
- Headache
- Fever
- Nausea
- Jaundice
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Malaise
- Abdominal cramps
- Enlarged liver
Severe side effects of NDMA in ranitidine
- Liver cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Stomach/gastric cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Reduced liver function
- Reduced kidney function
What Are the Alternatives to Zantac?
The FDA announced that ranitidine is the only anti-heartburn medication that may metabolize into NDMA. Their testing has found no traces of the chemical in the following alternatives:
- Pepcid (famotidine)
- Tagamet (cimetidine)
- Nexium (esomeprazole)
- Prevacid (lansoprazole)
- Prilosec (omeprazole)
They recommend taking any of these as an alternative to Zantac. If you have any questions, please consult your doctor.
Is Zantac the Same as Ranitidine?
Zantac and ranitidine are the same thing. Zantac is just the brand name for ranitidine. Ranitidine is the active ingredient in all brand name Zantac products as well as generic versions of Zantac. Ranitidine works by blocking a hormone in the body called histamine which activates stomach acid pumps. This effectively decreases the levels of stomach acid and prevents heartburn and related problems.
Why was Zantac (Ranitidine) Recalled?
According to the official FDA statement, the presence of high levels of NDMA in some Zantac tablets may be associated with impurities due to improper storage, and investigations are continuing in order to help protect the public from this ongoing problem.When the FDA made its initial findings public in September of 2019, they did not initially request a recall of Zantac. However, many retailers—such as CVS, Walmart and Walgreens—chose to voluntarily suspend the sales of Zantac until further information was released. In some countries, sales of Zantac or generic ranitidine hcl equivalents were also suspended pending further investigation.
The FDA continued to investigate the potential for high amounts of NDMA in Zantac through 2020. On April 1st, 2020, the FDA announced they submitted a voluntarily recall request of Zantac from the manufacturers of the medication.
Why is Zantac Dangerous?
In September 2019, independent analysis found that over-the-counter samples of Zantac contained higher-than-acceptable amounts of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a potent carcinogen that has been shown to produce cancer in both animals and humans. Further testing by both the independent lab and the FDA found that, under circumstances simulating the conditions of the human body, Zantac and other ranitidine products could metabolize into NDMA.
Is it Safe to Take Zantac?
It may not be safe to take Zantac or other products containing ranitidine because they may contain high levels of a cancer-causing chemical called NDMA. Testing recently discovered that Zantac and its generic equivalents contain alarmingly high levels of NDMA. NDMA is a chemical that is known to cause cancer. In response to this discovery, Zantac and generic ranitidine products have been pulled off the shelves by major retailers across the U.S.
Who Makes Zantac?
Zantac was originally developed by GlaxoSmithKline back in the 1980s. However, the original patent protection on Zantac (ranitidine) expired years ago and by the time ranitidine was recalled in 2019, there were at least 10 different companies manufacturing prescription and OTC ranitidine products in the U.S.
Who can and can’t take Zantac
Zantac (Ranitidine) can be taken by adults. It can also be given to children under 16 years of age on prescription.
Zantac (Ranitidine) isn’t suitable for some people. To make sure that it is safe for you, tell your doctor if you:
- have had an allergic reaction to Zantac (Ranitidine) or any other medicines in the past
- have kidney problems
- have an intolerance to, or cannot absorb, some sugars such as fructose
- have been advised to eat a low calcium or low salt diet
- cannot have alcohol – Zantac (Ranitidine) liquid contains a small amount of alcohol
- have phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare inherited illness
If you’re due to have an endoscopy to find out what’s causing your symptoms, stop taking Zantac (Ranitidine) at least 2 weeks before your procedure. This is because Zantac (Ranitidine) may hide some of the problems that would usually be spotted during an endoscopy.
Zantac Lawsuits
After the announcement from the FDA regarding the carcinogenic property of NDMA,people who took ranitidine- based Zantac started filing Zantac cancer lawsuits after being diagnosed with cancer. Zantac lawsuits claim that ranitidine, the active moleculen in Zantac, is highly unstable, and the manufacturers did not warm the public about its carcinogenic potential. In Zantac ( Ranitidine) Cancer Lawsuits, each plaintiff’s case is distinct. However , to speed up the legal process, all of the lawsuits are consolidated into an MDL( multi- district litigation).
As per the data of April 16,2020, there are 2,100 lawsuits against Zantac filed in federal court in the U.S. The actual figure would exceed 75,000.
What is the process for filing for Zantac lawsuit ?
Who Qualified for a Zantac Lawsuit?
People who filed Zantac lawsuits took brand-name Zantac and had to meet several criteria to qualify to file a lawsuit. Generic ranitidine was not included in lawsuits.
Those who qualified for a Zantac lawsuit satisfied several conditions:
- Have taken brand-name Zantac made with ranitidine for at least one year before being diagnosed with cancer.
- Been diagnosed with bladder, stomach, esophageal, liver or pancreatic cancer.
- Be younger than 20 years of age between the last time they took Zantac and their first cancer diagnosis.
- Be younger than 89 years old at the time of their first cancer diagnosis.
Have used Zantac at least once a week for one year or longer.
Lawyers are the only ones who can properly evaluate a claim, and they can help gather medical records and evidence to build a case.
Why Are Zantac Lawsuits Being Filed?
Zantac wasn’t technically recalled. A recall is when the Food and Drug Administration requires all of a product be pulled from shelves. The FDA simply requested that all retailers stop selling Zantac and ranitidine products. Because all retailers did stop selling Zantac, though, the product is as good as recalled now and is no longer on the market. In 2021, Sanofi introduced a replacement for Zantac, called Zantac 360, which replaced ranitidine with famotidine. Famotidine is also found in other heartburn medications.
What If I Have Zantac In My Shelf?
When the FDA recommended the complete recall of ranitidine products, they also recommended the disposal of any ranitidine products in your household as well. If you have any Zantac or ranitidine products, it is important to properly dispose of these according to the instructions on the label. NDMA is a potent carcinogen that also has the ability to contaminate clean water, so it is crucial to dispose of it properly to prevent further harm to others.
Are All Forms Of Zantac Unsafe?
At first, the FDA stated that not all medications in the U.S. marketed under the name ranitidine were necessarily toxic. Yet new information in April 2020 revealed that storing the medication improperly (in too warm an environment for an extended period of time) could lead to dangerously high levels of NDMA contaminants within the product.
At this time, all Zantac products containing ranitidine have been recalled by the FDA and are no longer allowed for marketed use.
If you’ve been taking Zantac over-the-counter (OTC) or as prescribed by a doctor for a health condition, contact your prescribing doctor as soon as possible to discuss your options for continuing to take the drug or switching to a safe alternative.
Who Are The Named Defendants In Zantac Lawsuits?
There are several Zantac product drug makers who have been named in recent lawsuits for failing to protect consumers from the drug’s NDMA risk.
Some of the biggest manufacturers named in these suits thus far are pharmaceutical giants Sanofi, Pfizer, and Boehringer Ingelheim—all of whom have reaped enormous profits off their Zantac products.
Plaintiffs in Zantac personal injury lawsuits claim these drug makers marketed and sold drugs contaminated with toxic amounts of NDMA, failing to disclose the associated health risks to the government and broader public.
Did Drug Makers Know About Zantac’s Cancerous Effects?
At this time, it is unclear whether makers of Zantac knew of its cancer-causing effects prior to making, distributing, and selling it. There has been no definitive statement released from Zantac drug makers on whether they were truly aware of the cancer risk prior to findings reported by Valisure and the FDA.
However, multiple peer-reviewed studies have indicated that it’s very likely the drug makers were aware of the risk for high NDMA levels in their products and neglected to disclose this risk to the public.
One peer-reviewed study published in the journal Carcinogenesis in 2016 found that healthy male and female patients who had taken ranitidine products were 400 times more likely to have elevated NDMA levels in their urine compared to patients who had not taken ranitidine.
Valisure, the online pharma company who first detected the toxic NDMA levels in Zantac products, has given a statement confirming that the cancer-causing effects of NDMA (and by extension, Zantac) is “well characterized in the scientific literature”.
How Many People Will File Zantac Lawsuits?
The scope of the impact is still unclear, although thousands of people have already filed a dangerous drug personal injury claim against the primary manufacturers of Zantac for their failure to disclose the risks of taking their products.
In 2016, more than 15 million prescriptions for ranitidine were written in the United States alone. Across the globe, many countries that distribute ranitidine products, including Canada, have issued mandatory recalls for all ranitidine (Zantac) products. At this time, the U.S. has not joined these countries in issuing mandatory recalls.
How Much Is A Zantac Lawsuit Worth?
As this is a fairly new development there has not been a settlement to give an accurate range of value to any Zantac lawsuits. Teh Zantac litigation will most likely be resolved with a global settlement of cases. The cases will likely be ranked into settlement tiers based on the severity of the plaintiff’s injuries and strength of claim. Some attorney’s speculate that cases in the top tier could be worth around $500,000. Second tier cases may be in the $250,000 range and the lowest tier cases will likely be worth $100,000 or less.
Outside of providing the basic qualifying events there isn’t much for you to do other than provide your information and join the suit. Provided you took Zantac (or another ranitidine product) on a daily or regular basis and were diagnosed with cancer after you may be eligible.
What is the average payout for Zantac lawsuits?
There were no 2021 Zantac lawsuit payouts, and none are expected in 2022 either. Settlement talks typically do not begin until some cases go to trial – which will likely happen in 2023.
How these bellwether trial verdicts turn out helps gauge what money victims can demand. Predictably, plaintiffs’ attorneys are aiming for a very high Zantac lawsuit payout. No amount of money can make up for getting cancer.
Although the Zantac litigation has incurred some delays because of the COVID 19, it is still proceeding according to schedule.
MDL settlements resolve through either:
- Global (or matrix) settlements: This is when defendants pay out a Zantac lawsuit settlement amount that covers all claims. Then plaintiffs’ attorneys use a matrix of criteria to determine how much each plaintiff pockets.
- Inventory settlements: Each plaintiff agrees to an acceptable minimum payout. Then if their attorneys win a larger amount, each client will receive a percentage of the bonus funds.
What are Zantac’s long-term effects?
Cancer is not the only potential consequence of taking Zantac. There are at least twenty other medical conditions linked to ranitidine use:
- Liver failure or reduced liver function
- Reduced kidney function
- Reduced lung function
- Enlarged liver
- Jaundice
- Skin rash
- Hair loss
- Hepatitis
- Vitamin B-12 deficiency
- Decreased sex drive
- Reduced platelet levels
- Cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and/or tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)
- Nervous system problems
- Elevated pneumonia risks
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Stomach cramps, constipation and/or diarrhea
- Dizziness, drowsiness, and/or sleep problems
- Headaches
- Tender breasts (in males)
Some short-term effects of Zantac are scarring and fibrosis of the liver.
Additionally, many people diagnosed with cancer after taking Zantac are also developing:
- Crohn’s Disease – an inflammatory bowel and digestive tract disease that manifests as diarrhea, pain, weight loss, and cramping; and/or
- PPH (Primary Pulmonary Hypertension) – when the lungs’ blood vessels narrow, resulting in high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery.
Why Is Zantac Banned?
All versions of the heartburn drug Zantac (ranitidine) have been pulled from the U.S. market due to possible contamination with a probable cancer-causing chemical, the U.S. Food and Drug administration says. In some ranitidine products, NDMA increases over time and when the drugs are stored at higher temperatures, which may result in people being exposed to unacceptable levels of the chemical, according to the FDA. In December 2019, Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro urged in a letter to the FDA to remove ranitidine from shelves and ban all sales in the United States because of the cancer risk
NDMA is an environmental contaminant that can be found in water and foods and has been classified as a “probable human carcinogen” by the World Health Organization.
Has There Been a Zantac Settlement?
There have been no Zantac settlements or jury verdicts in Zantac federal MDL litigation, but a plaintiff in Illinois, Joseph Bayer, voluntarily dismissed his state case before his trial after several generic manufacturers offered to settle the claim for more than $500,000.
Typically, bellwether trials help plaintiffs and defendants understand how much a case may be worth. Bellwethers in 2023 in California and Florida could provide more insight into a potential global settlement.
Potential settlement amounts are based on a claimant’s injuries, monetary damages and other unique factors. Lawyers speculate that individual Zantac lawsuit payouts could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars because people who took Zantac could claim the drug caused cancer.
In November 2022, GlaxoSmithKline set aside £40 million, or about $45.9 million, for litigation costs, but it didn’t factor in settlements.
Benefits Of Filing A Zantac Lawsuit
If you or a loved one has been harmed by cancer-causing Zantac products, you may be wondering: what are the advantages of filing a lawsuit against Zantac drug makers? The advantages of filing a claim can be numerous and will depend on the type of claim you file.
Benefits of filing a personal injury claim for harmful effects caused by Zantac may include:
- seeking compensation for direct harm caused by Zantac (effects on health)
- seeking compensation for indirect harm caused by Zantac (such as pain and suffering, effects to relationships, etc.)
- holding drug makers, distributors, marketers, and prescribing physicians accountable for their actions
- prompting change: filing lawsuits against drug manufacturers can force policy changes which ensure they change the drug to make it safe for all consumers
- ensuring the safety of others: prompting changes to the drug makeup helps ensure no one else will be harmed by Zantac’s risky effects
- inspiring changes on a grander scale for laws surrounding drug manufacturing: some cases are instrumental in helping prompt change for a certain area of law. This generally happens when many people have been harmed by a singular product, entity, etc., such as Zantac.
The main benefit of joining a class action lawsuit, in lieu of a personal lawsuit or in addition to it, is recouping what a person spent on a product which turned out to be harmful or defective.
However, other benefits are also possible when joining a Zantac class action lawsuit, such as:
- no responsibility for lawyer or attorney fees, as these are typically paid out of awarded damages
- a class action suit is more viable for people with limited time and financial resources
- building solidarity among individuals who have been unlawfully harmed by the named defendant(s)
- class action lawsuits are more efficient than filing numerous individual lawsuits
- one judgment and one settlement will be offered across the board
- an equal share of compensation among plaintiffs in a successful suit (with the possible exception of the lead plaintiff)
- little action required from plaintiffs, excepting the lead representative
Why Was Zantac Taken Off the Market?
Zantac initially came under scrutiny when a third-party lab analyzed over-the-counter versions of it and found higher-than-acceptable levels of NDMA. Further testing found that, under certain conditions, ranitidine had the possibility to metabolize into the carcinogen. Zantac manufacturers pushed back, claiming that they had underwent rigorous testing that found ranitidine only metabolized under extreme pressure and temperatures.
After refining testing procedures, the third-party lab found that, in conditions simulating the temperature and pH of the human body, ranitidine indeed metabolized into NDMA. As a result, the FDA stepped in to conduct their own investigation into the matter, issuing a voluntary recall of the product to remain cautious.
After months of investigation, the FDA concluded that Zantac and all ranitidine products must all be removed from the market. According to their findings, ranitidine may be an inherently unstable drug that persistently metabolized into NDMA, even under normal conditions. They found that older ranitidine samples had more amounts of NDMA than newer samples – and the longer they were left alone, the more NDMA was found.
Contact a Skilled Zantac Lawsuit Attorney
If you were diagnosed with cancer after taking Zantac, you may be eligible for financial compensation. As soon as possible following your diagnosis, contact a Zantac lawsuit attorney who can represent you in your lawsuit and secure the settlement you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation of your case or call at any time for more information.