What Do We Know About the Carcinogen Found in Zantac?
This year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requested all manufacturers of ranitidine, and the brand name Zantac, to pull over-the-counter and prescription medications from the market. The agency has been investigating the popular heartburn medication since September of 2019 after detecting a “contaminant” called N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in the drug.
What is NDMA?
NDMA is an environmental contaminant found in low levels in water and foods, including dairy, grilled meats, and vegetables. It is a possible carcinogen, and research links NDMA to cancer in animals. After further investigation, the FDA found that NDMA was not merely a “contaminant” found in the medication, but that the chemical compounds that make up ranitidine break down into NDMA.The online pharmacy Valisure first alerted the FDA to the possible NDMA contamination in ranitidine, filing a citizen petition with the agency in September of 2019. The petition indicated that Valisure found more than three million nanograms of NDMA per tablet, far above the FDA’s daily limit level of 86 nanograms. Valisure also stated that it believes NDMA forms as a result of the instability of the ranitidine molecule, breaking down into NDMA.
What Are the Risks?
NDMA is a probable carcinogen in animals, and the scientific community is concerned that prolonged exposure over time could lead to cancer in humans and contaminate drinking water. A 2016 Stanford University study found that the NDMA levels in the urine of people taking ranitidine increased more than 400 times over the 24 hours after taking the medication. Because the body metabolizes much of the chemical before it reaches the urine, the researchers indicated that the actual NDMA level in the body could be much higher. Moreover, a 2004 National Institutes of Health study of people with peptic ulcers found an increased incidence of bladder cancer in those taking Zantac and Tagamet, another antacid.With ranitidine breaking down into NDMA, it could enter the water-treatment system and enter the drinking water supply. Researchers at Valisure also raised concerns that recalled ranitidine thrown into the trash could also enter drinking water at high enough levels to cause concern. Rather than throw them away, it is safer to bring discarded ranitidine to your doctor or pharmacy for disposal.
What Should I Do?
If you’ve been taking ranitidine (Zantac), the FDA recommends that you stop taking it and consult with your doctor about other approved medications. If you or a loved one have had stomach, intestinal, colorectal, esophageal, liver, bladder, or kidney cancer and are concerned it may be linked to using Zantac or ranitidine, call the Madeksho Firm at 888-910-6376 or contact us through our online form. Your consultation is free, and you’ll never pay a fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
