Were you or someone you love diagnosed with cancer after taking prescription or over-the-counter Zantac or generic ranitidine? If so, you may be entitled to compensation from the manufacturer or another at-fault party.
At Scott Vicknair, LLC, our exceptional team of New Orleans trial lawyers help clients harmed by dangerous drugs fight for the fair recovery they deserve. We’re now reviewing cases for people who have developed cancer after taking Zantac.
If a ranitidine drug was part of your medication regimen and you’re suffering from serious health problems, your case may qualify, regardless of where you live. Here’s what you should know.
About Zantac (Ranitidine)
Ranitidine is an H2-blocker antacid and antihistamine drug used to treat stomach, throat, and skin conditions such as heartburn, acid reflux, stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eczema, and urticaria (hives). Zantac, the most well-known ranitidine drug, gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 1983. By 1988, it was generating $1 billion in annual sales, making it among the first medications to do so. Ranitidine was sold in varying dosages, under many brand names, including:
- Zantac 75 Tablets
- Zantac 150 Tablets
- Zantac 150 Maximum Strength
- Zantac 150 Maximum Strength Cool Mint
- Wal-Zan 75
- Wal-Zan 150
- Acid Control (ranitidine)
- Acid Reducer (ranitidine)
- Heartburn Relief (ranitidine)
- And others
Zantac Cancer Risks
In September 2019, the FDA alerted consumers that dangerously high levels of the carcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) were found in batches of Zantac and generic ranitidine tested by various pharmacies and laboratories. Just how high is “dangerously high?” While acceptable daily exposure to NDMA tops out at just 96 nanograms, one pharmacy found NDMA levels exceeding 3,000,000 nanograms in the products it tested. Further testing by the FDA revealed something even more worrisome: The NDMA content in ranitidine can increase over time and when stored at higher than room temperatures.
Though several manufacturers (and retailers) voluntarily pulled ranitidine drugs from shelves during the investigative process, the FDA officially requested an immediate withdraw of all prescription and over-the-counter ranitidine products from the market in April 2020.
NDMA has been linked to cancers in both humans and animals since the 1970s. Serious health problems associated with NDMA exposure include:
- Stomach cancer
- Liver cancer
- Bladder cancer (sometimes requiring bladder removal)
- Esophageal, nasal, or throat cancers
- Pancreatic cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH)
- Crohn’s disease
- And other medical conditions
Zantac Cancer Lawsuits
Drug manufacturers have a legal obligation to ensure the safety of their products, and warn consumers of any serious risks and side effects—or face liability for injuries or losses that occur. Lawsuits filed by people who were diagnosed with cancer after regularly taking Zantac (or other medications with the same active ingredient) claim that drugmakers have been aware of the links between ranitidine, NDMA formation, and cancer risks for decades, but failed to warn the public.
As of June 2021, more than 1,000 lawsuits have been filed against ranitidine manufacturers and retailers.
If you used Zantac, were diagnosed with cancer, and can show a link between the two events based on the dosage and how long you took it, our trial-savvy New Orleans attorneys may be able to help you recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages and earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- And other losses
Talk to Us About Your Case
If you’ve suffered as a result of taking prescription or over-the-counter Zantac or ranitidine, our seasoned trial attorneys can help you hold manufacturers like Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim, and others accountable. Contact us today and we’ll be in touch to discuss your case.