At some point, everyone experiences heartburn. Often times, it comes from too much acidity in our diet. For some people, heartburn and indigestion are a daily struggle. As a result, doctors often prescribe over-the-counter or prescription-strength medications to treat the problem. One of the most popular drugs used in the recent past was Zantac. Now, however, there are connections between Zantac’s primary ingredient and cancer.
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and believe it could be related to taking Zantac, a product liability lawyer from McMath Woods P.A. can help you learn about your legal options and file a Fayetteville Zantac cancer lawsuit. Successful lawsuits are based on convincing evidence and strong testimony. In order to work toward a successful verdict, it’s important to understand as much as possible about the product you believe caused you harm. Let’s start by going over some of the basics when it comes to Zantac and the issues surrounding it.
Zantac and Ranitidine: The Basics
Chemically known as ranitidine hydrochloride, Zantac works by reducing the amount of acid a person’s stomach produces. Since the 1980s, Zantac has been available over-the-counter and by prescription. Doctors often prescribed it to treat acid reflux, heartburn, and a variety of other stomach, throat, and gastrointestinal problems.
After taking Zantac, some patients were diagnosed with cancer. Through investigations and testing, it was discovered that some ranitidine products contained n-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). NDMA is a known animal carcinogen and is thought to potentially cause cancer in humans.
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and believe Zantac is to blame, it’s important to understand why the medication has been deemed dangerous and what you can do to recover compensation for physical, emotional, and financial losses.
FDA Recall of Ranitidine
On April 1, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its request to manufacturers to withdraw all prescription and over-the-counter ranitidine drugs from the market. This request was made after an ongoing investigation found NDMA in ranitidine medications like Zantac.
According to the FDA’s press release, the NDMA impurity in Zantac was found to increase over time and when stored at higher than room temperatures. As a result, consumers may have been exposed to the probable human carcinogen.
Prior to the official removal request, companies that produced ranitidine products were voluntarily recalling the medications as early as September 2019 when the FDA announced it was investigating Zantac cancer risks.
In light of the recalls, patients who had been taking either a prescription or over-the-counter versions of Zantac were directed to contact their primary care physicians to determine what steps to take to replace the medication.
Zantac Cancer Risk and NDMA Contamination
NDMA is a semi-volatile organic chemical. While it can form naturally, it can also unintentionally form through industrial processes. With Zantac, ranitidine has a molecular structure that makes it susceptible to creating NDMA once it’s ingested.
According to a study conducted by Valisure Online Pharmacy, when ranitidine is mixed with the gastric fluids and sodium nitrates that stimulate the digestion process, high amounts of NDMA are produced. The FDA has determined that daily intake of NDMA should not exceed 96 nanograms; however, Valisure’s tests detected 2,511,469 nanograms of NDMA in Zantac OTC and 3,267,968 nanograms in Zantac Cool Mint.
High NDMA exposure has the potential to affect a number of organs and systems in the human body. Some Zantac users have been diagnosed with the following cancers: bladder cancer, brain cancer, breast cancer, intestinal cancer, liver cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, and thyroid cancer.
What to Do If You’ve Been Diagnosed With Cancer After Using Zantac
If you’ve taken Zantac and have been diagnosed with cancer, it’s important to understand what steps to take to protect your future. It’s likely that if you took Zantac in the past, your doctor has now put you on a different medication for your condition. Even with that switch, you’ll want to be able to recognize crucial cancer symptoms connected to NDMA exposure. Some symptoms include:
- Unintentional weight loss
- Poor appetite
- A change in bowel habits
- Fatigue, dizziness, or weakness
- Back pain
- Itchy skin
- Painful urination or incontinence
In the event you start to experience those symptoms or others that you cannot explain, contact your doctor. They will need to run tests to determine what your ailment is. In the event you’re diagnosed with cancer, you’ll want to consider getting in touch with a Zantac cancer lawyer to determine what your legal rights and options are and whether you have a potential lawsuit.
Recover Compensation for Your Losses in Fayetteville
When a medication is deemed dangerous and consumers have been affected by it, any legal actions typically fall under product liability. In Arkansas, product liability can be based on negligence or strict liability—which can include claims of design defects, manufacturing defects, or failures of warning, instruction, or marketing. Your Fayetteville attorney will help you build your claim and ensure you have expert opinions backing your case, so you maximize your chances of receiving full and fair compensation.
For any personal injury claim, compensation is typically separated into two categories: economic and noneconomic. Economic losses include past, current, and future expenses. For a cancer diagnosis related to a dangerous medication, you may be eligible for a monetary award for medical expenses, future and ongoing life care costs, past and current lost wages, future lost income, and other out-of-pocket costs like transportation to doctor’s appointments.
Noneconomic damages are harder to calculate because they’re based on more subjective losses. With a cancer diagnosis, it’s likely you can recover compensation for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, and mental anguish.
Filing a claim is a complex process, especially when it involves a dangerous medication like Zantac. As such, working with McMath Woods, P.A. will increase your chances of recovering financially, so you can focus on your health, family, and future.
Learn More from McMath Woods, P.A.
To learn more about your legal rights and options if you’ve been diagnosed with cancer potentially related to using Zantac or another product containing ranitidine, schedule a case evaluation with McMath Woods, P.A.
A product liability lawyer will review your case and help you determine if you’re eligible to file a Fayetteville Zantac cancer lawsuit. If you are and you decide to pursue a case, we’ll guide you through the process and ensure that your case goes as smoothly as possible.
With our help, you’ll be on the path to recovering from your monetary losses, securing your financial future, and moving forward with the opportunity to focus solely on your health and wellbeing. Contact us today to learn more.
