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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pulled Zantac off all shelves in 2020, stating that there were unacceptable levels of a probable human carcinogen: the chemical N-nitroso dimethylamine (NDMA). There are thousands of lawsuits against the drug’s manufacturers, and you could be eligible to file one too.
Read on to learn more about why the chemical is dangerous, the latest updates on the Zantac cancer lawsuits, and how a Zantac cancer lawsuit lawyer could help you. We offer a free case consultation, so you can determine if you qualify for compensation.
What Is the Latest Update on the Zantac Cancer Lawsuit?
According to Forbes, in Dec. 2022, U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg dismissed a Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Zantac case, resulting in 50,000 rejected cases. The Florida judge threw out the MDL case stating that there was insufficient evidence to prove Zantac and other ranitidine drugs carried a risk of cancer.
Despite this, the 50,000 plaintiffs who had their cases dismissed are likely to file an appeal. If the appeal succeeds, these plaintiffs will have another chance to prove the dangers of the heartburn medication.
Can You Still Recover Compensation for Zantac Lawsuits?
If you took Zantac or another ranitidine product and were later diagnosed with cancer, you may be eligible to join dozens of others in filing a case against the drug manufacturer. Your cancer may have been preventable, and you can hold the drug company that caused it accountable.
Even though the judge dismissed 50,000 Zantac cancer lawsuits, thousands of lawsuits are still moving forward in states across the country, which means there’s still a chance you could recover compensation.
How a Zantac Lawyer Can Help You
If you were taking Zantac and have been diagnosed with one of the several types of cancer, a Zantac cancer lawyer from our law firm can help you discover if you have a valid case. Our team can help you by:
Evaluating Your Case
We can review the details of your situation for free, and you have no obligation to work with us. We’ll review the details of your Zantac case, such as your medical records and evidence proving that you took Zantac. We understand that being exposed to cancer-causing chemicals is scary when you thought the drug was safe to take.
We’ll answer any questions you have about your situation. If you have a valid Zantac cancer lawsuit, we’ll discuss the next steps and your possible compensation options.
Filing an Appeal
If you’ve already filed a Zantac cancer lawsuit, but it’s been dismissed by a judge, there may still be hope for you to recover the compensation you qualify for. Our Zantac attorneys could help you file an appeal. We can follow the appeal process for the state you filed your lawsuit in.
To do so, we’ll have to gather evidence to convince a judge that Zantac’s high levels of NDMA directly caused your cancer diagnosis. Our team is ready to help you build a comprehensive appeal case to fight for the compensation you qualify for.
What Is NDMA and How Did it End Up in Heartburn Drugs?
NDMA is a chemical that often forms during manufacturing processes and water chlorination. A chemical compound called monochloramine combines with dimethylamine in its liquid or gas form to make another chemical compound called unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH), similar to ammonia.
Finally, UDMH is oxidized, which forms NDMA. Even though NDMA can form in manufacturing processes, this is not how the chemical got into Zantac. According to the FDA, NDMA was present in the drug’s active ingredients and the finished pills. The Administration also discovered that as time went on and temperature increased, so did NDMA levels.
Similar levels of NDMA were found in some generic formulations of the drug, also known generically as ranitidine. The chemical was found in all forms of the drug, including:
- Ranitidine tablets
- Samples of ranitidine
- Over-the-counter versions
What Are NDMA’s Uses?
NDMA is primarily used scientifically to induce tumor growth in laboratory animals. It is a fairly common environmental contaminant, as well. Many people likely consume low levels daily in water, meats, dairy products, and vegetables. It is generally not thought to cause any harm at very low levels, at the levels the FDA allows.
One of the less-known yet shocking uses of NDMA was to make rocket fuel. Before 1976, the chemical was instrumental in producing fuel. However, agencies discontinued its use after extremely high levels of the chemical were found in groundwater and the air.
Having a chemical once used in rockets in Zantac indicates just how dangerous this chemical can be. If you still have Zantac or ranitidine, you should follow the proper disposal instructions and seek any treatment options you may need after taking ranitidine medications. After you’ve received the proper medical treatment, you should contact one of our lawyers so we can handle your Zantac cancer lawsuit for you.
What Are the Effects of Ingesting NDMA From Ranitidine?
While it’s okay for consumers to ingest low amounts of NDMA, higher levels can cause fatal conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), NDMA can cause lung and liver cancer in mice, rats, hamsters, and other animals when administered in relatively low doses over several weeks or months. In higher doses, it may cause internal bleeding, liver failure, and death.
While there are no scientifically documented cases that can prove NDMA caused cancer in a person as of March 2020, the FDA still considers the contaminant a “probable carcinogen” in humans. The claimants in Zantac cancer lawsuits hope to prove NDMA causes cancer and recover compensation for their related damages.
The FDA recommended that people taking prescription ranitidine discuss their risks with their doctor, whether they want to stop taking this medication or believe they suffer adverse effects. There are numerous other medications on the market to reduce acid production or otherwise help with heartburn and reflux that you can replace Zantac with.
What Are the FDA’s NDMA Limits?
The allowable limit for ranitidine medications is 96 nanograms per day. However, FDA discovered levels higher than this occurred in laboratory testing and, as a result, advised the affected drug companies to recall their ranitidine products. They also asked companies whose products were not tested to conduct independent testing to ensure they were safe.
Zantac was taken off the market because it listed it as an ingredient, along with other drugs, containing higher than allowed levels. However, it is important to note that these levels were still very low.
This instance is not the first time the FDA has discovered medications exceeding the acceptable limits of NDMA and recommended that they be pulled from the market.
Talk to a Zantac Cancer Lawyer About Your Case
If you believe that you may be eligible to take legal action based on your cancer diagnosis after Zantac was taken off the market, Zanes Law can help. We are accepting ranitidine cases from all states at this time. There may be time limits on how long you have to take legal action, so reach out to us today for a free case review.
Your review and sign-up can all be done in one phone call. Contact a Zantac cancer attorney about your case today.