Did You Develop Cancer After Taking Zantac?
If you have taken Zantac (ranitidine) and were later diagnosed with cancer, you may be eligible for significant compensation. Zantac is a common heartburn medication available in prescription and over-the-counter versions. Zantac is an H2 blocker, also known as an H2 antagonist, and was used to decrease stomach acids by blocking histamine receptors in the stomach. The drug-treated peptic ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and related conditions. Heartburn sufferers took this medication for many years, unaware of the potential risks.
On April 1st, 2020, the FDA officially recalled all Zantac and ranitidine products, both over-the-counter and prescription versions. This decision was based on compelling evidence that Zantac can contain a cancer-causing substance called N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). The first lawsuits were filed after an online pharmacy, Valisure, published the results of testing they performed on the drug and reported them to the FDA. According to their tests, “extremely high levels” of NDMA were present in “every lot tested, across multiple manufacturers” of the drug. Testing performed by Valisure reported that Zantac contained more than 3 million nanograms of NDMA per tablet, which is more than 31,000 times the FDA’s maximum recommended daily intake limit. The FDA then performed similar testing and found unacceptable levels of NDMA in the drug. There is also evidence that the company that manufactured Zantac was aware of this carcinogenic substance but failed to remove products or warn consumers.
Cancer can be physically, mentally, and financially devastating. By taking legal action against the manufacturer, you may be able to recover compensation for the money you spent on your cancer treatment, as well as for your losses, such as lost wages and pain and suffering.
The Zantac cancer attorneys at Hach & Rose, LLP have the experience and resources to take on deep-pocketed pharmaceutical companies. We’re ready to fight for you. You can take our quiz today to see if you qualify or contact our defective drugs and product attorneys for a free consultation at (212) 779-0057.
Why Do I Need a Zantac Cancer Attorney?
The pharmaceutical company that manufactured Zantac, Sanofi, is powerful and well-resourced. Hiring an experienced product liability attorney maximizes your chances of receiving compensation from this company or any company that manufactured a ranitidine medication you may have taken, such as a generic version. Your attorney will know exactly what evidence to gather, which documents to submit, and who the best expert witnesses are to help you prove your case.
Once you take legal action against Sanofi or another pharmaceutical company, representatives from their legal team may try to ask you questions or have you come in for a statement. It’s very important that you do not communicate in any way with the drug manufacturer without your attorney present. Their representatives may ask confusing or misleading questions that force you to give answers that weaken your case. If you file a lawsuit, the pharmaceutical company will have a right to ask you questions or ask you to give a statement, but it’s critical that your lawyer is present to ensure that they are not asking improper questions.
It is also crucial that you do not accept any money from companies like Sanofi without consulting an attorney. They may offer you a one-time settlement in exchange for dropping your case. A lawyer, however, may be able to negotiate a higher amount of compensation or advise you that you should fight your case in court.
It may ultimately be in your best interest to take a settlement, and indeed many product liability cases do end in settlement, but it’s very important to review any offers with an experienced product liability attorney before you accept any money or sign any documents.
Why Should I Hire Hach & Rose, LLP?
Hach & Rose, LLP is an accomplished product liability firm with over 100 years of combined experience. We fight hard for our clients and get results: we have won over $400,000,000 for our clients. At Hach & Rose, LLP, we believe that forming respectful, honest, and compassionate relationships with our clients allows us to achieve the best results possible. Not only do we work tirelessly for you, but we treat you like family. Our clients are consistently satisfied with the work we perform, how we walk them through the process step-by-step, and our responsiveness to any questions along the way.
As a patient prescribed Zantac, or a family member, you may be unfamiliar with the potential risks of the drug and related ramifications. Rest assured that our attorneys have the resources to thoroughly investigate any dangers related to the drug, medical causation, compliance with FDA regulations, any alleged wrongdoing, and all other factors that could affect your case. Our attorneys are well-versed in class action lawsuits and will fight aggressively on your behalf.
We understand that you may be worried that hiring an attorney will be too expensive. At Hach & Rose, LLP, we work on a contingency-fee-basis, taking a percentage of your overall settlement or verdict at the end of your case. We charge no bills or fees along the way. If you don’t win your case, you don’t owe us any money.
We also offer a free consultation, where you can tell us about your situation, ask any questions, and we’ll give you an idea of your legal path forward.
What Is Zantac and How Is It Linked to Cancer?
Zantac (ranitidine) is a drug that regulates the stomach’s acid level. A certain level of stomach acid is important to digest food properly, but some people have stomachs that overproduce acid. This can result in several uncomfortable ailments, such as acid reflux, heartburn, ulcers, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Before being recalled, Zantac was available both over-the-counter (OTC) and by prescription.
Scientific studies show that Zantac, and similar ranitidine medications, contain a well-known cancer-causing chemical called N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). Zantac contained very high amounts of NDMA — over 3,000,000 ng per tablet. According to the FDA, ingesting anything over 96 ng of NDMA daily can be carcinogenic.
NDMA is a common ingredient in rocket fuel, aviation, and industrial lubricants. NDMA can also be produced by various industrial processes, like refining crude oil and the treatment of sewage. It has also been used during laboratory tests on rats during cancer research. NDMA has been identified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the US National Toxicology Program (NTP) as probable carcinogenic.
The FDA also found that the level of NDMA in ranitidine medications increases over time, even if it is stored in perfect conditions. If stored in warmer or more humid surroundings, the level of NDMA in the product may increase more quickly.
Many types of cancer are associated with NDMA, including:
- Bladder cancer
- Colon cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Esophagus cancer
- Intestinal cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Lung cancer
- Breast cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Liver cancer
Zantac also poses other dangers and serious symptoms. NDMA is a hepatotoxin, which is a toxic chemical substance that can damage internal organs. Short-term exposure to hepatotoxins can cause liver damage, and long-term exposure could cause tumors. Some common symptoms of exposure to NDMA may include headaches, dizziness, fever, nausea, jaundice, vomiting, abdominal cramps, an enlarged liver, reduced liver function, and reduced function of the kidneys and lungs.
Other serious effects of NDMA exposure include nervous system disorders, irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia or tachycardia), a deficiency of vitamin B-12, hepatitis, liver failure, low platelet levels, skin rashes, and hair loss.
There are many serious side effects associated with Zantac. If you have taken Zantac and later developed any form of cancer, you should contact an attorney immediately. You may be eligible for compensation.
How Much Money Will I Recover?
The amount of compensation you receive will depend on a variety of factors. In general, plaintiffs in product liability lawsuits can seek compensation for two kinds of damages: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are measurable, should be easily verified, and represent a monetary loss. Non-economic damages are subjective and not related to direct monetary losses.
Your economic damages are the expenses you incurred due to your cancer. These are medical bills, including emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgery, cancer treatment, specialist visits, prescriptions, physical therapy, and the cost of transportation to medical appointments. Economic damages also include lost wages if your cancer has made you unable to work and future lost income if your cancer has impacted your ability to work in the future.
Non-economic damages can be harder to quantify but are just as significant. They include non-pecuniary losses, such as pain, suffering, emotional trauma and anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium (loss of benefits of a familial relationship). In some states, non-economic damages are called “pain and suffering.” To make the case that you deserve compensation for non-economic damages, keeping a journal in which you document your daily pain is a good idea.
Frequently Asked Questions
The pharmaceutical company that manufactured Zantac, Sanofi, is powerful and well-resourced. Hiring an experienced product liability attorney maximizes your chances of receiving compensation from this company or any company that manufactured a ranitidine medication you may have taken, such as a generic version. Your attorney will know exactly what evidence to gather, which documents to submit, and who the best expert witnesses are to help you prove your case.
Once you take legal action against Sanofi or another pharmaceutical company, representatives from their legal team may try to ask you questions or have you come in for a statement. It’s very important that you do not communicate in any way with the drug manufacturer without your attorney present. Their representatives may ask confusing or misleading questions that force you to give answers that weaken your case. If you file a lawsuit, the pharmaceutical company will have a right to ask you questions or ask you to give a statement, but it’s critical that your lawyer is present to ensure that they are not asking improper questions.
It is also crucial that you do not accept any money from companies like Sanofi without consulting an attorney. They may offer you a one-time settlement in exchange for dropping your case. A lawyer, however, may be able to negotiate a higher amount of compensation or advise you that you should fight your case in court.
It may ultimately be in your best interest to take a settlement, and indeed many product liability cases do end in settlement, but it’s very important to review any offers with an experienced product liability attorney before you accept any money or sign any documents.
Hach & Rose, LLP is an accomplished product liability firm with over 100 years of combined experience. We fight hard for our clients and get results: we have won over $400,000,000 for our clients. At Hach & Rose, LLP, we believe that forming respectful, honest, and compassionate relationships with our clients allows us to achieve the best results possible. Not only do we work tirelessly for you, but we treat you like family. Our clients are consistently satisfied with the work we perform, how we walk them through the process step-by-step, and our responsiveness to any questions along the way.
As a patient prescribed Zantac, or a family member, you may be unfamiliar with the potential risks of the drug and related ramifications. Rest assured that our attorneys have the resources to thoroughly investigate any dangers related to the drug, medical causation, compliance with FDA regulations, any alleged wrongdoing, and all other factors that could affect your case. Our attorneys are well-versed in class action lawsuits and will fight aggressively on your behalf.
We understand that you may be worried that hiring an attorney will be too expensive. At Hach & Rose, LLP, we work on a contingency fee basis, taking a percentage of your overall settlement or verdict at the end of your case. We charge no bills or fees along the way. If you don’t win your case, you don’t owe us any money.
We also offer a free consultation, where you can tell us about your situation, ask any questions, and we’ll give you an idea of your legal path forward.
Zantac (ranitidine) is a drug that regulates the stomach’s acid level. A certain level of stomach acid is important to digest food properly, but some people have stomachs that overproduce acid. This can result in several uncomfortable ailments, such as acid reflux, heartburn, ulcers, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Before being recalled, Zantac was available both over-the-counter (OTC) and by prescription.
Scientific studies show that Zantac, and similar ranitidine medications, contain a well-known cancer-causing chemical called N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). Zantac contained very high amounts of NDMA — over 3,000,000 ng per tablet. According to the FDA, ingesting anything over 96 ng of NDMA daily can be carcinogenic.
NDMA is a common ingredient in rocket fuel, aviation, and industrial lubricants. NDMA can also be produced by various industrial processes, like refining crude oil and the treatment of sewage. It has also been used during laboratory tests on rats during cancer research. NDMA has been identified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the US National Toxicology Program (NTP) as probable carcinogenic.
The FDA also found that the level of NDMA in ranitidine medications increases over time, even if it is stored in perfect conditions. If stored in warmer or more humid surroundings, the level of NDMA in the product may increase more quickly.
Many types of cancer are associated with NDMA, including:
- Bladder cancer
- Colon cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Esophagus cancer
- Intestinal cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Lung cancer
- Breast cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Liver cancer
Zantac also poses other dangers and serious symptoms. NDMA is a hepatotoxin, which is a toxic chemical substance that can damage internal organs. Short-term exposure to hepatotoxins can cause liver damage, and long-term exposure could cause tumors. Some common symptoms of exposure to NDMA may include headaches, dizziness, fever, nausea, jaundice, vomiting, abdominal cramps, an enlarged liver, reduced liver function, and reduced function of the kidneys and lungs.
Other serious effects of NDMA exposure include nervous system disorders, irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia or tachycardia), a deficiency of vitamin B-12, hepatitis, liver failure, low platelet levels, skin rashes, and hair loss.
There are many serious side effects associated with Zantac. If you have taken Zantac and later developed any form of cancer, you should contact an attorney immediately. You may be eligible for compensation.
The amount of compensation you receive will depend on a variety of factors. In general, plaintiffs in product liability lawsuits can seek compensation for two kinds of damages: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are measurable, should be easily verified, and represent a monetary loss. Non-economic damages are subjective and not related to direct monetary losses.
Your economic damages are the expenses you incurred due to your cancer. These are medical bills, including emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgery, cancer treatment, specialist visits, prescriptions, physical therapy, and the cost of transportation to medical appointments. Economic damages also include lost wages if your cancer has made you unable to work and future lost income if your cancer has impacted your ability to work in the future.
Non-economic damages can be harder to quantify but are just as significant. They include non-pecuniary losses, such as pain, suffering, emotional trauma and anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium (loss of benefits of a familial relationship). In some states, non-economic damages are called “pain and suffering.” To make the case that you deserve compensation for non-economic damages, it’s a good idea to keep a journal.