Cancer causing substances can show up in the most surprising places. One place most people in Ohio do not want those substances showing up is in their prescription medications. But the carcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine — NDMA — has been found in a number of different prescription drugs, including nizatidine. NDMA can cause serious drug injuries to those who ingest it.
Nizatidine is an angiotensin II receptor, which is a type of medication frequently used to treat reflux and other digestive problems. The presence of NDMA in nizatidine means that patients who were prescribed this medication probably have a higher risk of developing cancer. NDMA has also been found in other drugs, such as ranitidine and metformin.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently released new guidelines detailing how pharmaceutical companies should prevent NDMA contamination when manufacturing their drugs. The guidelines highlight a number of processes that can cause nitrite and amine impurities, which ultimately lead to NDMA. However, even when avoiding certain processes or greatly improving upon them to minimize unnecessary risks, these impurities can still show up in materials sourced from outside vendors.
These new guidelines may help protect future patients, but they do nothing for victims who have already suffered drug injuries or developed cancer. These men and women need help addressing serious and potentially long term problems, such as medical bills, lost wages and physical trauma. For many victims in Ohio who are currently struggling with these very issues, pharmaceutical litigation may be a wise option for addressing their damages.
