About 15 million people experience heartburn daily, which is a burning pain in their chest or throat from indigestion, according to the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG). Many of those people turn to medication, both prescription and over-the-counter, to relieve their discomfort. One of the commonly used anti-heartburn drugs used is Zantac, but more recently we have learned that it is not as safe as originally thought.
Zantac, which is the brand name for the drug ranitidine, is a histamine-2, or H2, blocker. It decreases acid production in the stomach, which alleviates heartburn symptoms caused by the acid. People also take this drug to help with other medical issues, like stomach ulcers, erosive esophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. The problem is that there are dangers associated with ranitidine that could negatively affect the health of those who take it and could even cause cancer.
At McMath Woods, P.A. in Little Rock, our experienced product liability lawyers can help you file a Zantac cancer lawsuit against a company for manufacturing and distributing dangerous drugs for use. But first, let’s look into the dangers of Zantac, or its generic name, ranitidine.
What Are the Dangers of Ranitidine?
When the body breaks down ranitidine, it combines with water in the body, and becomes a compound known as N-nitrodimethylamine (NDMA). As the CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry details, NDMA is a chemical used in rocket fuel and for other industrial purposes, and when it enters the body, it can greatly harm a person’s liver and is listed as a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO).
NDMA can cause many problems in the body when you take more than the recommended daily amount, which is 96 nanograms per day. More specifically, NDMA can cause stomach cancer, bladder cancer, liver damage, liver disease, enlarged liver, liver cancer, kidney cancer, and lung cancer.
Independent drug companies, like the online pharmacy Valisure, tested the levels of NDMA in ranitidine and found that they were “extremely high,” while the FDA claims that their testing found levels to be low. Independent companies decided to recall the drug, and the FDA recommended a recall as well, and since it is classified by the EPA as a probable human carcinogen, pulling the drug from the shelves was the best call. But before the drug was recalled, many people still were able to take it, which could have negatively affected their health.
What Are the Signs of NDMA Overexposure?
Even though the FDA has recommended daily limit of ranitidine, if you were unaware of the limit or that the drug wasn’t entirely safe, or if you took the drug before it was tested and recalled by some drug manufacturers, then you could have ingested too much and became overexposed to NDMA. Here are some symptoms of overexposure of NDMA:
- Headache
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Jaundice
- Abdominal pain
- Dizziness
If you have experienced these symptoms after taking Zantac, you should seek medical treatment to get your NDMA levels checked. On top of that, if you have been diagnosed with cancer and you believe it is a direct result of taking Zantac, you could be eligible to file a Little Rock Zantac cancer lawsuit.
Filing a lawsuit against a large corporation can feel like a daunting task, but with the help of a Little Rock product liability lawyer from McMath Woods, P.A., you can rest assured that your claim will be handled correctly. We will take care of the legal side of things so that you can focus on your physical, mental, and financial recovery during this tough time in your life. Contact our office today if you think you could have a case, and we will discuss your legal options moving forward.
