Have you been using the over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription heartburn medicine Zantac regularly? Have you since been diagnosed with some form of cancer? According to developing research and an investigation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there may be a connection. Zantac may be increasing your body’s levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a carcinogenic chemical compound.
Our national trial attorneys from Bailey Cowan Heckaman PLLC are currently looking into the allegations against Zantac. We would like to hear from you if you have been diagnosed with cancer and suspect your frequent Zantac usage could be to blame. It might be possible for you to be eligible to seek compensation from Zantac for selling a potentially cancer-causing drug without warning consumers.
Call (713) 909-7910 right now to get more information about your rights and our legal services.
What Makes Zantac a Possible Carcinogen?
Zantac uses the drug ranitidine to help control acid reflux, limit heartburn, and quell indigestion. However, ranitidine is relatively unstable and capable of rapid alteration when it comes in contact with water, turning it into NDMA. The water in your own digestive tract is enough to act as a catalyst for this chemical conversion.
As a result, people who take Zantac regularly may have highly increased levels of NDMA in their blood and body. One study found that taking only 150 milligrams of Zantac – or just one maximum strength tablet – could produce nearly 50,000 nanograms of NDMA in the user’s urine within the day. The FDA cites an NDMA-level of just 96 nanograms as potentially dangerous due to its cancer-causing properties.
Why are Zantac & Sanofi Being Sued?
There are dangerous drugs being pulled off the shelves seemingly every week in the country. Not every single one of those recalls prompts a lawsuit or multidistrict litigation (MDL) filed against the drug’s manufacturer. Why are Zantac and Sanofi – the Big Pharma company that manufactures it – being threatened by lawsuits from all corners of the United States?
The answer lies in their failure to warn consumers about how Zantac’s ranitidine could form into NDMA and cause cancer. As early as 2004, the National Cancer Institute determined a solid link between bladder cancer and the ranitidine in Zantac. Yet there was no effort from Sanofi to address the concerns and bring it to the attention of consumers. Instead, the information was quieted away, and the product continued to be sold right off the shelves of drug stores nationwide.
Can You Sue Zantac for Your Cancer?
Have you been diagnosed with one of these types of cancer?
- Stomach cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Intestinal cancer
Have you also regularly used Zantac, either purchased freely in-store or with a prescription? It is time to see if you have a valid claim to file in pursuit of compensation, justice, and closure. Call our attorneys at (713) 909-7910 to begin.
The more information you can provide us, the better we can determine your eligibility to either file an individual lawsuit or join a mass tort. For example, copies of your medical record that show your Zantac prescription would be helpful to establish the link between your cancer and your Zantac usage. Or, you might be able to retrieve drug store receipts that show your frequent Zantac purchases, either through the store’s internal systems or records from your bank. Of course, our attorneys can also be of assistance for these steps as well.
Compensation you may be able to demand in your Zantac lawsuit includes:
- Past, current, and future medical costs associated with your cancer
- Wages lost due to cancer treatments and related illnesses
- Pain, suffering, and emotional trauma
- Lessened life expectancy
- Potential punitive damages ordered to punish Sanofi
- And more
Contact Bailey Cowan Heckaman PLLC at any time to start discussing your Zantac lawsuit. Remember: We offer our legal services to clients nationwide. We do not need to be located in your home state to help.
