On April 1, 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration put out a press release that manufacturers of Zantac and generic Zantac over-the-counter are to withdraw the medication from the market.
During the Food and Drug Administration’s investigation into Zantac, they found that N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in some Zantac medications “increases over time and when stored at higher than room temperatures may result in consumer exposure to unacceptable levels…
Which Zantac/ranitidine Has Been Recalled?
Before the Food and Drug Administration issued its recall of Zantac/ranitidine, companies such as Apotex, Sandoz, and GlaxoSmithKline had already recalled their Zantac/ranitidine products from Walmart, Rite Aid, and Walgreens.
The complete list of companies who withdrew Zantac/ranitidine before the Food and Drug Administration made their announcement are:
- American Health Packaging
- Amena Pharmaceuticals
- Aurobindo Pharma USA
- Apotex Corp.
- Appco Pharma
- Denton Pharma (a/k/a Northwind Pharmaceuticals)
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Glenmark Pharmaceuticals
- Golden State Medical Supply
- Lannett Company
- Novum Pharma
- Perrigo Company
- Precision Dose
- Reddy’s Laboratories
- Sandoz
- Sanofi
What Exactly Was the Problem With Zantac/Ranitidine?
It all started with a Valisure Pharmacy tested Zantac for consistency and quality issues like they do all the medications they sell. Valisure discovered that during testing high levels of NDMA were found “in every lot tested across multiple manufacturers and dosage forms of the drug ranitidine.”
NDMA is a type of chemical that the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the World Health Organization all list as a carcinogenic, meaning it can cause cancer.
Valisure reported the results of their testing to the Food and Drug Administration in June of 2019. Three months later, Valisure filed a citizen’s petition with the Food and Drug Administration that urged them to issue a recall for Zantac/ranitidine and suspend all sales of the drug.
In January of 2020, Emery Pharma, a research laboratory, also filed a citizen’s petition with the Food and Drug Administration saying that ranitidine, the main active ingredient in Zantac, develops into NDMA when exposed to heat.
Why Didn’t the Food and Drug Administration Issue a Recall of Zantac in 2019?
Despite the mounting evidence that Zantac can cause cancer in humans, the Food and Drug Administration didn’t immediately issue a recall in 2019. The FDA did warn consumers that testing of Zantac/ranitidine showed a cancer-causing chemical, NDMA at more than 3,000 times the legal daily intake limit.
While the Food and Drug Administration didn’t issue a recall at that time, companies such as Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS, and other stores pulled Zantac from their shelves.
Other manufacturers also issued a Zantac/ranitidine recall in 2019, and almost twenty-four other countries either stopped selling the medication or restricted sales.
Zantac Cancer Attorneys Called for the FDA to Recall
The Zantac cancer lawyers at The Falkowitz Law Firm in Long Island, New York believe that the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to issue a market withdrawal for Zantac/ranitidine is a good first step in protecting consumers from a dangerous drug. However, more should be done.
If you or a loved one took Zantac/ranitidine and contracted cancer, you need a lawyer with the experience necessary to litigate against major drug and pharmaceutical companies. The Zantac cancer lawyers at The Falkowitz Law Firm in Long Island, New York have the necessary experience in holding large corporations responsible for hiding the dangers of many consumer products.
For a free Zantac review of your circumstances, contact us today.
