During September 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced two separate voluntary recalls of Ranitidine, to cover the prescription version of the drug, as well as the over-the-counter version. Several countries have followed suit and have recalled Zantac and Ranitidine as well. Ranitidine is the generic form of a drug which is used to treat intestinal ulcers, acid reflux disease, and heartburn. The most popular brand name associated with the drug is Zantac, and it's one of the most used drugs around the globe.

As of September 24, the FDA had announced a voluntary recall of prescription Ranitidine capsules which were made by Sandoz, Inc. The specific lot numbers involved in the Zantac cancer recall are available on the FDA website for anyone who wants to check them out. Within two days of that announcement, the FDA made another declaration about over-the-counter versions. This new announcement covered drugs which were made by Apotax Corporation.nIt also included generic versions of the drug which were labeled by Rite Aid, Walmart, and Walgreens. All these lot numbers are also listed on the FDA website for people to check. The reason the specific products were recalled is that the FDA was alerted to the fact that they contained unusually high levels of N–Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).nBased on prior laboratory testing, NDMA is considered to be a likely human carcinogen. That same carcinogen can be found in a great number of everyday substances such as dairy products, vegetables, meats, and even water. However, the level contained in these substances is extremely low, and is therefore not considered harmful. The Zantac cancer concern stems from the fact that the original discovery of NDMA in Zantac was far more than any of these ordinary items contained.n

Anyone who is currently taking prescription Ranitidine should talk to their doctor about switching. Keep in mind that not all Ranitidine medications are subjected to the recall. The FDA is also not currently recommending that patients abruptly stopped taking Ranitidine. The first thing you should do is check to see if the Ranitidine you are taking is part of the recall.

If it turns out that it is, you can return it to your local pharmacy, and obtain some kind of replacement. That recalled medication would then be returned to the wholesaler for disposition. If you've been taking an over-the-counter version of Ranitidine, you may want to consider switching to some other OTC product. Make sure your your replacement product is effective at managing whatever medical condition you have.

Our law firm, Levin Citron Rodal, PLLC, was the first law firm to file suit for cancer cases in both Federal and State Courts. In each lawsuit, the Plaintiffs claim that Zantac (and its generic version, Ranitidine), exposed them to the potent cancer-causing carcinogen, NDMA. The World Health Organization has described NDMA in the past as a 'clearly carcinogenic' substance. Anyone who purchased either a prescription version of Ranitidine, or an over-the-counter version such as Zantac, should strongly consider contact Levin Citron Rodal as they may be eligible for compensation, even if they have never been diagnosed with cancer.

The lawsuit which has been filed, claims that the manufacturers of Zantac were fully aware of the carcinogenic risk, but failed to alert the public, among other allegations. The recall issued by the FDA was announced only after an independent company named Valisure found 2.5 million ng of NDMA in each 150-mg tablet of Zantac after subjecting the tablets to certain tests. This figure represents an amount which is 26,000 times the allowable intake of NDMA, as specified by the FDA itself.

Since the FDA appears to be downplaying the NDMA cancer risk involved, it is necessary for all people affected to become involved. If you've used Zantac or Ranitidine, contact our firm today to see if you may be entitled to compensation. .

In the wake of the Zantac cancer warning, there are a number of other medications which might be taken as a replacement. If you have been taking Zantac or Ranitidine, you may want to contact your physician to see whether your doctor recommends an alternative. Some of these alternatives fall into the category of H2 blockers, and include such brand names as Pepcid or Tagamet. Pepcid contains famotidine, while Tagamet includes a drug called cimetidine.
You may want to ask your doctor about proton pump inhibitors such as Protonix, Nexium, or Prilosec. To determine your best course of action, you should consult with your medical professional. He/she will help you to decide whether you should continue with an alternative, or whether you can discontinue taking acid-blocker medications.