Here at Barfoot and Schoettker, we want our clients to receive the justice that they deserve, no matter the type of case. As professionals in the industry, our goal is to fight for the compensation that is appropriate for you. We provide personal injury care, including any drug recall concerns you may have.

On April 1, 2020, Ranitidine, commonly known by the name Zantac, was ordered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be removed from store and pharmacy shelves because of the N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in it that has potentially harmful effects.

While the FDA had been testing the drug since 2019, the amounts or effects of NDMA were not known to be concerning at the time. It wasn’t until extensive tests over time were conducted to know that the recall was necessary because of the potential long-term effects of causing cancer.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the organization that is committed to “ensuring that the medicines Americans take are safe and effective. We make every effort to investigate potential health risks and provide our recommendations to the public based on the best available science.”

It is important to know the details of this drug and recall in order to know if you may be entitled to compensation.

What is Ranitidine

Ranitidine, or Zantac, is a popular heartburn medication that was available both over-the-counter and by prescription. Prescription ranitidine also treats more serious conditions like preventing stomach and intestine ulcers.

The Concern

According to the FDA, “the impurity in some ranitidine products increases over time and when stored at higher than room temperatures and may result in consumer exposure to unacceptable levels of this impurity.”

The reason for this impurity is because of NDMA, a human carcinogen, which can cause cancer, is found in Ranitidine. While NDMA is found in some foods and water, it is not harmful at low levels and has not been proven to cause cancer at these levels.

In addition to harmful effects at higher temperatures, even long term shelf storage and lengthy manufacturing time can cause an increase in the levels of NDMA in ranitidine. The older the ranitidine product is, the more concerning the NDMA levels are for daily intake.

According to Janet Woodcock, MD, of the FDA, “We didn’t observe unacceptable levels of NDMA in many of the samples that we tested. However, since we don’t know how or for how long the product might have been stored, we decided that it should not be available to consumers and patients unless its quality can be assured.”

What this Means for You

The FDA recommends not taking Ranitidine anymore as soon as possible and safely disposing of the drug. There are similar drugs to Ranitidine that have not been recalled famotidine, or Pepcid, cimetidine, or Tagamet, and many other alternative heartburn medications.

If you frequently took Zantac (Ranitidine) and have been diagnosed with any of the following listed cancers, you should call and speak with one of our lawyers today, you may be entitled to compensation.

• Bladder Cancer and bladder removal
• Colon Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Kidney Cancer and kidney removal
• Liver Cancer
• Stomach Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Ovarian Cancer
• Esophageal Cancer

If you or a loved one has been given the diagnosis of one of the above listed cancers after taking a prescription or over-the-counter Zantac or other drug containing ranitidine, you may be eligible for compensation. Here at Barfoot & Schoettker, we want to ensure that you receive the proper repayment that you deserve. When you work with us we will closely evaluate your case and propose the best steps in order to receive justice. Contact us today to learn more about our process and discuss your case.

Here are some links to related information

• What’s the difference between personal injury and workers compensation?
• Philips Sleep Apnea BiPAP/CPAP Recall - Potential to Cause Cancer
• Whiplash Compensation 101