Individuals who sustained injuries as a result of using Zantac to remedy heartburn have reached out to Rueb Stoller Daniel’s Boston class action attorneys for them to file lawsuits. Zantac is a medicine that is available through a doctor’s prescription or over the counter. It has lately been linked with a heightened risk of developing cancer.
The sad situation is that even though the manufacturers of Zantac had this information, they did little to inform their customers as they wanted to avoid the negative effect such news would have on their bottom line. Due to their gluttony, many people ended up injured or dead over the years. The companies involved in this act of injustice must be held liable for being negligent. Call a Boston Zantac lawsuit lawyer at 1-866-CALL-RSD for a free consultation if you’ve been injured by prolonged use of the drug.
An Overview of Zantac and Its Uses
The generic form of Zantac is called ranitidine. The drug acts on the digestive tract, effectively reducing the amount of stomach acid. Zantac is often prescribed for digestive problems such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, peptic ulcers, intestinal ulcers, heartburn, stomach ulcers, and indigestion.
A lower dosage amount of Zantac can also be obtained over the counter and is common in remedying heartburn. Doctors have long recommended Zantac to their patients as a way of easing digestive issues like ulcers.
Zantac first came to the US market at the start of 1981. Over the years, it has worked its numbers up, ranking 50th among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the US.
Has The FDA Issued Warnings For Zantac?
The FDA first sounded a warning regarding Zantac in September 2019. The warning was issued after the FDA realized that the medication had carcinogenic properties. The carcinogenic element in the drug is a compound known as NDMA. Various tests revealed that Zantac had carcinogenic levels as much as 3,000-26,000 times higher than the permitted levels.
The FDA restricts the carcinogenic levels to under 100 nanograms. By testing, it was found that one Zantac tablet could contain up to 3,000,000 nanograms of NDMA, which is a recognizable carcinogenic compound. Zantac, which is also sold over-the-counter, comes in standard 150 mg tablets. The Zantac drugs that are prescribed by doctors come in 300 mg tablets. The typical Zantac prescription requires that users take one pill every day before going to bed, for a duration of 6-8 weeks.
A complaint filed against Boehringer Ingelheim and Sanofi indicated that the companies were well aware of the risks of increased chances of cancer with the use of Zantac. While they knew about these dangers, they failed to notify users or health care providers.
Research has revealed that individuals who have used Zantac over a long time depicted overly high concentrations of NDMA in their urine. Actually, NDMA concentration in their urine is over 400 times that of a person that doesn’t use the drug. According to researches, most of the users would have opted not to take the medication if they knew the cancer risk associated with it.
What Tests Have Been Performed on Zantac?
A while ago, a test on over a hundred Zantac tablets by the FDA indicated that the pills contained carcinogenic elements. The shocking part is that the carcinogenic amounts in these tablets surpassed that allowable daily limit by FDA by over 2,000 times. Nitrosodimethylamine is the carcinogenic substance contained in Zantac and is more commonly referred to as NDMA.
Most researchers have arrived at evidence that connects Zantac and NDMA to various types of cancers. The evidence further shows that Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim, the companies that manufactured Zantac (ranitidine hydrochloride), were well aware of the carcinogenic traits of Zantac but willingly refused to inform their customers.
Millions of individuals with gastrointestinal complications such as gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, heartburn, sour stomach, acid reflux, and Barrett’s esophagus ingested the drug without the knowledge that it could increase their risk of developing cancer.
Boehringer Ingelheim and Sanofi earned over $1 billion from the sale of Zantac while concealing the truth from its customers. Zantac became the first prescription of its kind to register such high amounts of sales.
Sadly, the carcinogenic ingredients contained in the drug caused injuries to many of its users. The only option left for these users is to sue Boehringer Ingelheim and Sanofi for hiding vital information regarding the risks of using the drug. Jointly, these companies were negligent and put the users of the drug in danger by not revealing the potential dangers of Zantac. As such, it makes sense to hold them responsible for their actions.
Is There a Clear Relation Between Zantac And Cancer?
The internal organs of the human body are impacted differently by NDMA, the carcinogenic compound in Zantac. The effect of this compound on the liver is especially substantial. The exposure to NDMA over a long time may lead to various medical complications, including:
- Fibrosis of the liver
- Scarring of the liver
- Stomach cancer and bladder cancer
- Development of tumors in the liver, kidneys, and lungs.
WHO has since recognized nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) as a carcinogen.
Various supervisory and medical bodies, including the FDA, are investigating the source of the impurities contained in ranitidine. Looking at Zantac more keenly will help such bodies establish more ways in which the drug puts the lives of users at risk. As of now, there is no date for the conclusion of the investigation. Once it is finalized, the FDA will take the necessary actions depending on the findings of the investigation.
Has There Been A Recall Issued For Zantac?
Currently, there has been no recall for Zantac issued to drug manufacturers by the FDA. The regulatory body is also yet to prohibit the sale of the drug by retailers. Most retailers that once sold this drug have decided against selling this medication to users, given the results of the tests conducted.
At the moment, available data indicates that the NDMA levels in Zantac are not significant to be considered a risk of inducing cancer development in users. However, NDMA continues to be listed as a potential carcinogen. The risk of cancer development among humans could rise significantly whenever they are continually exposed to the carcinogenic compound over a long time.
As such, experts caution against the long-term use of Zantac. According to the FDA, individuals with digestive problems and require medication should explore their options with the help of medics so that they find safer alternatives to Zantac. Several other medications without NDMA are available in the market and could provide a similar remedy.
How is A Zantac Lawsuit Filed?
For a long time, a significant number of users in the US have been exposed to NDMA by using Zantac. Such users have come together to file several class-action lawsuits against the manufacturers of Zantac. Individuals who received a cancer diagnosis following continued use of Zantac is illegible for compensation. This is especially if cancer affected the stomach or bladder. Common claims include:
- Loss of income
- Loss of ability to earn in future
- Medical bills for complications caused by Zantac
- Punitive damages
- Pain and anguish
- Loss of a quality life
Successful class-action lawsuits benefit other victims that were exposed to carcinogenic elements in Zantac over time and are now suffering from the effects. Such users may receive financial compensation to help settle any medical bills related to their exposure to the carcinogens. Class-action settlements could also include costs to cover lost income.
Another advantage of such class-action lawsuits is that they set precedence, which forces other drug manufacturers to stick to the labeling standards. New laws are often passed as a way to protect users from similar exposure.
MedWatch has requested all healthcare practitioners and ranitidine users to report any effects of using this drug. This organization carefully looks into the risks of such medication.
Filing a lawsuit against the manufacturers of Zantac follows the same procedure as an injury case. Before filing, it is essential to understand how the process unfolds. It is advisable to start by hiring an experienced Boston Zantac lawyer who has handled personal injury cases, especially those related to medications.
If a close person died as a result of prolonged use of Zantac, the best thing to do would be to hire an attorney that handles wrongful death cases. A skilled Boston Zantac lawyer can help build a strong case. Since they have handled similar cases in the past, they help you avoid any mistakes that curtail the success of your case. These attorneys also help you present facts and evidence most appropriately.
Upon hiring a mass tort lawyer, you will hold a meeting to discuss all the matters of your case, including all the details of the parties that are responsible for causing the injuries you suffered. The complainant also plays a significant role in setting up the case, especially when it comes to gathering evidence to be used in the case.
Gathering of evidence is probably the greatest task of the complainant, which is important in backing up the case. The gathered evidence is presented as part of the lawsuit and contributes largely to the determination of the compensation you are set to receive.
Victims in such cases also qualify to sue for compensatory and punitive damages. With the assistance of your attorney, it is possible to determine the amount of compensation you deserve. It is essential to calculate damages carefully to ensure that you receive every bit of the compensation you deserve.
Build a Water-Tight Case With A Boston Zantac Lawsuit Lawyer
Contact Rueb Stoller Daniel today if you or a close person to you has suffered injuries or passed on due to the negative effects of Zantac. We will arrange a meeting at no cost to discuss the matters of your case. You are not obliged to continue using our services after that initial consultation. If we take up your case, you will not pay a dime unless you win the case. These drug manufacturers must be held responsible for their negligent actions.
Reach out to our Boston mass tort firm at 1-866-CALL-RSD to discuss your case and figure out the way forward. Depending on your situation, our Boston Zantac attorneys will figure out the best approach to the case.
