ZantacⓇ is a prescription and over-the-counter medication used to treat heartburn, acid reflux, and GERD symptoms. However, ZantacⓇ contains the carcinogen and hepatotoxin Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).
Several organizations, including the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), have issued statements regarding the drug’s adverse effects. As a result, victims are filing ZantacⓇ cancer lawsuits against drugmakers.
Legal Claims Against Manufacturers
Numerous victims across the United States have sued ZantacⓇ manufacturers after taking the medication for a prolonged period and receiving a specific cancer diagnosis. Plaintiffs argue that the drugmakers knowingly placed a dangerous drug on the market and failed to warn consumers and their doctors of its harmful effects.
Who Qualifies for a ZantacⓇ Cancer Lawsuit?
Those who took the name-brand ZantacⓇ for heartburn, acid reflux, or GERD symptoms at least once per week for over a year and later received a specific cancer diagnosis connected to the drug qualify for a lawsuit. The cancer risks associated with ZantacⓇ ingestion include the following:
- Bladder
- Esophageal
- Liver
- Pancreatic
- Gastric (i.e., Stomach)
Less than 20 years must separate your diagnosis from when you last took ZantacⓇ. Further, you must have been younger than 89 when you received your cancer diagnosis. There is a strict statute of limitations for filing a ZantacⓇ cancer lawsuit, so consult with an attorney if you believe you were affected.
Grounds for a ZantacⓇ Cancer Lawsuit
ZantacⓇ victims can sue manufacturers on the grounds of defective design and failure to warn. In the case of defective design, manufacturers are liable for the following:
- The drug’s faulty design posed a foreseeable risk, and
- the drug was manufactured and ingested as was initially intended.
When you ingest the standard dose of ZantacⓇ, the highly unstable active ingredient ranitidine hydrochloride causes a chemical reaction that produces high levels of NDMA, a human carcinogen, in the digestive tract. NDMA is also present in gasoline, rocket fuel, and petroleum products. Therefore, by design, ZantacⓇ’s ingredients react with the body to cause contamination.
Secondly, ZantacⓇ’s warning label failed to mention its potentially carcinogenic properties. If it adequately stated the risks, doctors likely wouldn’t have prescribed it, and patients wouldn’t have taken it. Numerous other prescriptions are available that don’t contain the main harmful ingredient. As a result, ZantacⓇ’s packaging is adequate evidence for “failure to warn” arguments.
Establishing Proof
Potential claimants must prove they took the brand name ZantacⓇ with ranitidine for at least one year before receiving a cancer diagnosis. The longer you take ZantacⓇ, the stronger your case. The following documents can also strengthen your argument:
- Receipts
- Pill bottles or packaging
- Prescription records from a healthcare provider
- Pharmacy records (if ZantacⓇ was prescribed)
- Medical records showing you developed cancer after taking ZantacⓇ
If you took OTC ZantacⓇ, particular documents could also help you, such as the following:
- Affidavits or declarations that you took OTC ZantacⓇ
- Rx prescription drug cards
- Health flexible spending accounts (FSA)
- Health reimbursement accounts (HRA)
- Health saving accounts (HSA)
An experienced toxic tort attorney can help you form a successful case. They possess the knowledge and expertise to recommend the next steps and recover damages in a ZantacⓇ lawsuit.
Evidence That ZantacⓇ Causes Cancer
On April 1, 2020, the FDA released a statement requesting that all ZantacⓇ with ranitidine manufacturers withdraw the drug from the market. This statement follows a prior warning about ZantacⓇ given by the FDA in 2019. In addition, they asked drugmakers to perform laboratory testing on all ranitidine products and mail the samples to them.
The FDA also instructed manufacturers only to sell the daily limit of NDMA (96 nanograms). If they wish to sell products with amounts greater than the daily limit, they must notify the FDA.
However, just one tablet of ZantacⓇ contains 2.5 to 3 million nanograms of NDMA – that’s 26,000 to 31,000 times the safe amount. As a result, several ranitidine products have “unacceptable levels” of NDMA, according to the FDA.
Furthermore, the US Department of Health and Human Services stated that NDMA is anticipated to cause cancer in humans. Additionally, NDMA is a “probable human carcinogen,” as indicated by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
As a result, it’s logical to argue that since one dose of ZantacⓇ with ranitidine contains “unacceptable” amounts of NDMA, a “probable human carcinogen,” regular ingestion causes cancer in people.
Receive Expert ZantacⓇ Cancer Lawsuit Representation
Carey Danis & Lowe has represented victims of America’s largest corporations since 1995. Our lawyers have played a crucial role in numerous high-profile product liability cases at the state and federal levels. In the last ten years, we’ve dedicated our expertise to helping those injured by pharmaceutical companies and their dangerous drugs, obtaining over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements.
We will continue to focus on complex litigation and fight for victims. Our successful track record stems from a team of individuals determined to achieve the best client outcomes. Further, our mission at Carey Danis & Lowe is to serve the public interest by aiding victims of corporate abuse, neglect, and greed.
Our experienced lawyers at Carey Danis & Lowe can help if you or a loved one developed cancer linked to the NDMA in ZantacⓇ with ranitidine. Contact us today – we’ll help you determine whether you qualify for a ZantacⓇ lawsuit.
