On April 1, 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration issued a press release in which they requested that all manufacturers of Zantac and generic Zantac over the counter drugs be immediately withdrawn from the market.
The Food and Drug Administration found that N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in some drugs containing ranitidine “increased over time and when stored at higher than room temperatures and may result in consumer exposure to unacceptable levels….”.
What is Ranitidine?
Ranitidine is sold under the brand name of Zantac, and as a generic drug is produced by many manufacturers to decrease the production of acid in your stomach. Ranitidine is most commonly used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, heartburn, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Ranitidine works by stopping histamine action at your histamine H2 receptors in your gastric parietal cells. Many people take ranitidine in a capsule, liquid, or tablet before eating their first meal of the day. The medication is available by prescription or over-the-counter.
What Is Ranitidine Used For?
Ranitidine is used to decrease the amount of acid in your stomach, and to treat, relieve, or prevent:
- Duodenal Ulcers
- Erosive Esophagitis
- Gastric Ulcers
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Heartburn
- Postoperative Ulcers
- Stress-induced Ulcers
- Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
Ranitidine also comes in a syrup form for babies and is used to prevent:
- Duodenum Ulcers
- Esophageal Ulcers
- Erosive Esophagitis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Ulcers
- Stomach Ulcers
What Are the Precautions for Zantac/Ranitidine?
If you are breastfeeding, ranitidine can enter your breast milk. The medications that decrease stomach acid production in your stomach have been linked to an increased risk of acute gastroenteritis and community-acquired pneumonia in children.
If you use ranitidine, there is a risk that you are masking the symptoms of stomach cancer, and patients who have a liver or kidney impairment should be cautious if using ranitidine products.
What Are the Side Effects of Ranitidine/Zantac?
The potential side effects of using Zantac/Ranitidine include but are not limited to:
- Atrioventricular Block
- Blurred Vision
- Bradycardia
- Cholestatic Hepatitis
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Extreme Fatigue
- Hepatitis
- Infection
- Infectious Diarrhea
- Insomnia
- Jaundice
- Liver Failure
- Pneumonia
- Premature Ventricular Beats
- Rash
- Tachycardia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Rash
In elderly or severely ill people the potential side effects are:
- Agitation
- Depression
- Hallucinations
- Mental Confusion
In children the side effects are:
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Rash
Can Ranitidine Cause Cancer?
Many studies show a link between ranitidine and cancer. In 2004, researchers at the National Cancer Institute found a link between ranitidine and bladder cancer. The study said that “N-nitrosamines are known carcinogens, and nitrate ingestion has been related to bladder cancer risk.”
Long Island, New York Ranitidine Cancer Attorneys
The Zantac cancer lawyers at The Falkowitz Law Firm have extensive experience aggressively fighting against big pharmaceutical companies that manufacture and unsafe market drugs. We use our formidable resources and experience to investigate ranitidine cancer claims and, when necessary, file ranitidine lawsuits.
If you or a loved one has taken Zantac or a product containing ranitidine and have developed cancer, please contact our Long Island, New York Zantac attorneys at The Falkowitz Law Firm for a free consultation so we can properly evaluate your individual circumstances and advise you of your next legal steps.