Zantac Esophageal Cancer Risk

What is the problem with zantac?

Zantac first became available on the market in 1983 by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. Since then the ownership rights have changed between companies with Boehringer and Sanofi-Aventus both marketing Zantac over the years.

The product was prescribed by doctors as a heartburn medication for any condition in which the stomach produced too much stomach acid which could back up into the esophagus. Ranitidine is the generic name of a class of H2-blocker medications which reduces the creation of stomach acid. 

The FDA issued a recall for prescription and over-the-counter ranitidine products, including Zantac, on April 5th, 2020.

The FDA’s investigation revealed the following information.

  • Certain batches of Zantac contain higher levels of NDMA.
  • Zantac kept at temperatures higher than room temperature contain higher levels of NDMA.
  • Even some Zantac batches stored in ideal conditions still contained dangerous NDMA levels.

The FDA is warning that ranitidine containing products, including Zantac, may raise patients’ level of NDMA consumption above the safe threshold. Low levels of NDMA are not dangerous however repeated exposure to high levels of NDMA can increase patients’ cancer risk. They recommend that all Zantac patients immediately dispose of their leftover medication safely and stop use immediately.

Since the FDA’s findings Sanofi-Aventis has announced that it has undertaken a voluntary recall of Zantac over cancer concerns.

So What is NDMA and why is it bad?

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) belongs to a family of chemicals called “N-nitrosamines,” it has been identified in samples of ranitidine. It has been classified a probable human carcinogen, observational studies have demonstrated a relationship between exposure to NDMA and specific cancers. 

It is naturally occurring in certain food and water, but can be extremely dangerous at higher levels. Humans are usually regularly exposed to low levels of the chemical from common food and household items such as cigarette smoke, cured meats, cosmetic products, detergents, and pesticides.

What is esophageal cancer?

Esophageal cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the inner lining of the esophagus (the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach).

Esophageal cancer has been named as one of the primary types of cancer that may be caused by long-term overexposure to NDMA.

Scientists have learned that there are specific factors that can increase the risk of cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute these include:

  • smoking.
  • having gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
  • being obese.
  • heavy alcohol consumption.
  • older age.
  • gender – men are 3x more likely to be diagnosed than women.

Esophageal cancer is a rare type of cancer that only makes up 1% of all cancer diagnoses in the US. In 2019, an estimated 17,650 people received a new esophageal cancer diagnosis.

Can Zantac cause esophageal cancer?

Research has shown that there is a correlation between NDMA intake and cancer. One study of over 23,000 people between the ages of 40 to 79 discovered an increased risk of gastrointestinal cancers in those with higher NDMA intake. A long-term study was done on 120,000 adults over 16 years that found a positive association with NDMA intake and esophageal cancer.

By exposing your body to unsafe levels of NDMA, you are at an increased risk for developing cancerous tumors. Humans can safely consume up to 96 nanograms of this chemical per day, but exposure to higher levels over time will cause damage to DNA.

There has been greater emphasis on the idea that people who have developed esophageal cancer also have a history of acid reflux problems. This discovery of a potential link between Zantac and esophageal cancer has caused major concern, as only 20 percent of those who are diagnosed with this type of cancer survive past five years.

What are the symptoms of esophageal cancer?

Early stage esophageal cancer often does not cause any symptoms and sufferers may not notice that anything is wrong until it is more developed. More advanced stages of esophageal cancer often present the following symptoms:

  • Painful or difficulty swallowing
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Loss of appetite and nausea
  • Chest pain or pressure
  • Hoarseness
  • Coughing
  • Indigestion or heartburn
  • General declining health

What to do if you have symptoms or have taken zantac?

If you are showing any of the symptoms above and took Zantac for an extended period of time you should take action and talk to your doctor immediately. From there they can conduct imaging tests, barium swallow tests, endoscopies, and biopsies to try and determine if the cause of your symptoms is esophageal cancer.

During the 60s and 70s, only around 5 percent of patients survived at least 5 years after being diagnosed. However nowadays, the 5-year survival rate is about 20 percent. Early diagnosis is important for survival rates. The earlier the cancer is detected, the higher the survival rates will be – and this is especially true with esophageal cancers.

How can a lawyer help?

Pharmaceutical companies have a responsibility to their consumers to ensure that their products are safe to use. If there are any foreseeable risks associated with medication, companies have a responsibility to provide adequate warnings to their customers. Zantac’s (and other ranitidine medications) warning label contained no mention of its potential risks of carcinogens or the possibility of unsafe NDMA exposure, which has been proven to be present at high risk levels in tests conducted by third party investigations.

Zantac’s warning label contained no mention of its risks of carcinogens or the possibility of unsafe NDMA exposure, if doctors and patients knew about these risks, they most likely would not have administered it to treat the patient and would have used an alternative drug.

Thousands of people who have developed cancer are filing cancer lawsuits against the drug’s manufacturers who were involved in producing Zantac products on several counts including:

  • Negligence
  • Strict Liability – Design Defect
  • Strict Liability – Failure to warn

If you’ve taken Zantac or other medications containing ranitidine and been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, you may be eligible compensation in the form of payment.

A lawyer specializing in the Zantac lawsuit will be able to determine if you are eligible to receive compensation from the drug companies. There is only a fee for the lawyer if the case is won and you receive payment, no win and there is no charge.

Compensation from a Zantac lawsuit may help with:

  • Travel to and from treatments
  • Lost income
  • Medical bills
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of companionship
  • Funeral expenses

Sources

- Drug Watch - Zantac Recall
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - Statement alerting patients and health care professionals of NDMA found in samples of ranitidine
- National Cancer Institute - Esophageal Cancer - Cancer Stat Facts
- National Cancer Institute - Esophageal Cancer Prevention

Looking for a lawyer to handle your Zantac case?

If we accept your case, you won’t be charged anything unless you win! Connect with one of our top Zantac lawyers today and together we can hold the pharmaceutical manufacturers responsible for their actions!

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