If you suffer from acid reflux or ulcers, you may have noticed that one over-the-counter remedy is no longer on drug store shelves: Zantac. In April, the FDA requested that retailers no longer stock Zantac because it contained N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a known carcin0gen.
Cancer-causing chemical increases over time
NDMA first was detected in Zantac in the summer of 2019. However, the FDA determined the level of the chemical was low in Zantac and not likely to cause cancer. Yet further testing showed that NDMA levels increased in Zantac under normal storage conditions. So, the older a package of Zantac was, the more likely its NDMA levels had increased.
As part of the Zantac recall, the FDA also urged consumers to discard any Zantac they had at home. If you had stored the medication for months or years, it likely had higher levels of NDMA.
What users of Zantac should know
If you were a regular user of Zantac before April 2020, you still may be at a higher risk for cancer. Even if the Zantac you used had low amounts of NDMA, if you used the medicine often, you had higher exposure.
Exposure to NDMA can cause prostrate cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Low amounts of NDMA can cause liver damage.
If you find yourself facing a cancer diagnosis or liver damage and was a frequent Zantac user, you should consult a personal injury attorney. You could file a personal injury lawsuit or join a class-action suit to receive compensation for your needed treatment and pain and suffering.