Zantac®️ Lawsuit Attorney St. Louis, MO

Those suffering from persistent heartburn, stomach ulcers, intestinal ulcers, or acid reflux have often turned to medications such as Zantac®️ (also known as ranitidine) to relieve their symptoms. In 1981, ranitidine was introduced to the public, and Zantac®️ was specifically released by Glaxo Holdings, Ltd., in 1983.

For over 30 years, Zantac®️ has provided the relief that patients desperately need, but the manufacturers kept hidden a dangerous side effect of prolonged exposure to all products containing ranitidine, including Zantac®️. Contact a Carey Danis & Lowe Zantac®️ lawsuit attorney in St. Louis, MO, immediately if you or a loved one regularly took the medication for at least a year and were subsequently diagnosed with cancer.

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What Is Zantac®️ and What Is It Used for?

Zantac®️ began as a prescription medication, then transitioned into an over-the-counter histamine-2 (H2) receptor antagonist. Zantac®️ and its active ingredient, ranitidine, reduced the amount of acid created by the stomach.

Acid build-up can cause heartburn and ulcers in specific individuals whose stomach lining isn’t strong enough or well-lined to hold it in place. Zantac®️ provided relief for many of these patients.

How Does Zantac®️ Work?

The stomach normally produces corrosive acid to aid food digestion and kill germs. It creates a natural mucus barrier to prevent acid from eroding the stomach lining. However, the acid may escape through a barrier breakdown or stomach lining issue, causing ulcers or heartburn.

Zantac®️’s active ingredient, ranitidine, works to decrease acid produced by cells in the stomach lining. Therefore, it helps treat conditions caused by acid overproduction. Patients who took Zantac®️ experienced heartburn, ulcers, and acid reflux relief.

What Are the Side Effects of Zantac®️?

When any prescription or over-the-counter medication enters the body, the risk of side effects is prevalent. Even drugs on the market for many years have well-documented side effects. Common side effects of Zantac®️ include:

  • Increased gastric distress 
  • Diarrhea 
  • Extreme fatigue 
  • Drowsiness
  • Insomnia

Although the side effects of Zantac®️ are a tolerable alternative to heartburn and ulcer relief, the medication can cause serious medical conditions. Zantac®️’s primary ingredient was connected with a life-threatening side effect that caused the need for a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) re-examination and recall.

Illnesses Linked to the Use of Zantac®️

Zantac®️’s manufacturers hid the most severe side effects from the public and the FDA. Its active ingredient, ranitidine, is an unstable molecule that, when broken down, creates high levels of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a human carcinogen. NDMA is also present in gasoline, rocket fuel, and petroleum products.

Patients who took Zantac®️ with ranitidine are at an increased risk for the following cancers:

  • Bladder
  • Esophageal
  • Liver
  • Pancreatic
  • Stomach

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies NDMA as carcinogenic. Therefore, the fact that Zantac®️’s manufacturers hid this life-threatening side effect from consumers is problematic. As a result, pharmacies recalled the drug, and those who developed cancers related to NDMA deserve compensation for their pain and suffering.

Why Are Consumers Filing Zantac®️ Lawsuits?

In April 2020, the FDA told all manufacturers to stop selling Zantac®️ with ranitidine in the United States because NDMA can increase over time. Therefore, the longer Zantac®️ with ranitidine sits on the shelf, the greater the concentration of NDMA. Further, the FDA doesn’t know how long the carcinogen was in Zantac®️.

Since the manufacturers issued ranitidine recalls for the potential cancer risk, affected consumers have filed numerous lawsuits against them. It’s important to note that you must meet stringent requirements to qualify for a case. For instance, those who took Sanofi’s new drug, Zantac®️ 360, made with famotidine, do not qualify.

How Do You Qualify for a Zantac®️ Lawsuit?

Consumers must meet several criteria to qualify for a Zantac®️ lawsuit. First, cases only apply to those who took the name brand Zantac®️, not generic ranitidine. Additionally, you must fulfill three necessary qualifications:

  • Proven Zantac®️ use
  • Specific cancer diagnosis
  • Connection between cancer diagnosis and Zantac®️ use

Proven Zantac®️ Use

Potential claimants must prove they took the brand name Zantac®️ with ranitidine for at least one year before receiving a cancer diagnosis. To do so, those with a prescription should present medical records as proof. Consumers that used over-the-counter Zantac®️ must have a receipt to prove their purchase and other evidence, such as a doctor’s note, showing they took the drug.

Cancer Diagnosis

Cancer is the primary injury claimed in Zantac®️ lawsuits. Therefore, claimants must have a diagnosis of stomach, bladder, esophageal, liver, or pancreatic cancer to qualify. Additionally, less than 20 years must separate your diagnosis from the last time you took Zantac®️. Further, you must have been younger than 89 when you received your cancer diagnosis.

Connection Between Cancer Diagnosis and Zantac®️ Use

Those that took Zantac®️ at least once a week for one year or longer qualify for a lawsuit. Generally speaking, taking a higher medication dosage helps prove your case, as does the length of time.

Should You File a Zantac®️ Lawsuit?

Those that meet all qualifications for filing a Zantac®️ lawsuit can receive compensation for damages. You and your family likely face mounting medical bills, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and poor health. Don’t let the manufacturers get away with their behavior — you must speak with an experienced Zantac®️ lawsuit attorney in St. Louis, MO, to discuss your case.

Contact Our Experienced Zantac®️ Lawsuit Attorneys in St. Louis, MO

The product liability attorneys of Carey Danis & Lowe have represented individuals injured by America’s largest corporations since 1995. Our firm has played a significant role in many high-profile mass tort cases because we care about the victims. In the last decade, we have worked tirelessly for clients harmed by pharmaceutical companies and their drugs, obtaining over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements.

Our attorneys will continue to fight in state and federal courts for those injured by harmful drugs. The 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 our Zantac lawsuit®️ attorneys in St. Louis today for a free case evaluation. We can help you determine whether you’re eligible for compensation.

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