Many companies voluntarily recalled their Zantac products since the 2019 discovery that the main ingredient, ranitidine, was found to contain traces of the carcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). Healthline states that the drug was available in tablet and liquid form.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that these manufacturers recalled their ranitidine goods to alleviate heartburn:
- Sandoz Inc.
- Apotex Corp
- Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd
- Sanofi
- Perrigo Company
- Novitium Pharma LLC
- Lannett Company, Inc.
- Aurobindo Pharma USA
- Amneal
- American Health Packaging
- Golden State Medical Supply
- Precision Dose Inc.
- Glenmark Pharmaceutical Inc.
- Mylan
- Appco Pharma LLC
- Northwind Pharmaceutical
Most of the companies voluntarily recalled their products once they realized that they were a threat. The FDA ordered a full recall on April 1, 2020. The first voluntary recall occurred on September 24, 2019.
Why the Drug Was Recalled for the Public’s Safety
The way the drug was stored in higher temperatures inspired impurities in the product. This impurity could lead to cancer in people that take the drug. You are unlikely to develop cancer if you only took Zantac a few times, but over time, the medication could be very dangerous. Speak to your healthcare team and a lawyer about your options if you think you might be at risk of getting sick because of your use of Zantac.
There Are Alternative Medications You Can Take
You might be feeling panicked if you have been taking Zantac. It is important to note that cancer often only results after long-term exposure to NDMA. Additionally, you do not have to live with your heartburn because of this recall. There are other products you can take to help with your symptoms. Harvard Health Publishing says that cimetidine (Tagamet) or famotidine (Pepcid) can help for long-term heartburn treatment without ranitidine.
Do not attempt to treat your heartburn by yourself or go off Zantac without discussing with your doctor what else you should use in its place. Your doctor can answer your questions about symptoms you should look out for after being a short- or long-time Zantac user. You should devise a new treatment plan that will not endanger your future health and life.
You Could Collect Compensation if You Were Exposed to Ranitidine Via Zantac
There is a chance that you could be eligible for damages to cover your losses related to your exposure to Zantac. If you or a loved one got sick after their use of Zantac, you could collect compensation for the following losses:
- Loss of income, benefits, tips, and bonuses you could have earned at work
- Reduced future earning potential, if you cannot work in the same capacity as before your ranitidine-connected illness
- Medical costs, doctor visits, hospitalizations, specialists, and treatments/surgeries required to treat your ranitidine-connected illness or condition
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Costs for in-home care, childcare, or housekeepers during your recovery and treatment
If your loved one passed because of ranitidine medication use, funeral and burial services, loss of income, loss of consortium, loss of guidance, and your loved one’s medical expenses are all compensable damages.
You could pursue a private lawsuit on your own with your lawyer or seek out joining a class action with other individuals who suffered from ranitidine drugs. Speak with your lawyer about your options.
What a Fight for Compensation Might Look Like
If you decide you want to seek damages for your losses, you could decide to retain representation to help you do so. You and your lawyer might file an insurance claim. This will consist of your lawyer helping you analyze your existing and potential future losses. They will add up the amount of compensation that would be fair in your case and detail your losses in a demand letter, which they can send to a liable drug maker’s insurance company.
You could also file an individual lawsuit with yourself as the only plaintiff. Alternatively, you might decide to join a preexisting class action case, where many other victims of similar losses to yours file a collective suit. Regardless of the path you choose, your main goal will be to secure a settlement or judgment.
Your lawyer will start by negotiating for a fair amount of compensation. The insurance company might not want to pay up, but that is why you hired a lawyer—to argue on your behalf. In a class action, all plaintiffs will receive the same amount of damages for their losses. Some class action cases, called mass torts, will involve each plaintiff receiving separate amounts of compensation relative to the severity of your losses.
Work with Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers to Seek Compensation
Our firm wants to help you fight for justice from negligent drug makers that put the public at risk. We can help you hold the liable parties responsible for any illness or condition that you developed (or that worsened) because of your use of Zantac or other ranitidine products.
Call our team today to speak to a representative about your case. When you retain our services, you will retain the representation of our founding partners, Jason and Debi Chalik. Dial (855) 529-0269 today to begin. We can also discuss how your life might change now that Zantac has been recalled.