Toward the end of 2019, consumers in Ohio and elsewhere learned that a popular medication some have taken for decades contained a human carcinogen that could give them a variety of cancers. Since Sept. 2019, numerous pharmaceutical companies have voluntarily issued recalls for products containing ranitidine, a popular heartburn reliever. Some people may have hoped that the new year would bring better news, but instead, the Food and Drug Administration only continues to widen heartburn drug recalls.
Two more manufacturers of ranitidine products have pulled their remaining supplies from the market. A third company has removed certain lots of its nizatidine products, which could also unsafe levels of N-Nitrosodimethylamine. In fact, the potential presence of NDMA at unsafe levels is the reason cited by all three companies for the recalls.
NDMA, which is known as an environmental contaminant, tends to appear in foods such as vegetables, meats and dairy products, along with water. However, the mystery of how it appears in a popular heartburn reliever continues to stump the FDA and consumers. Researchers are working to answer the question. In the meantime, consumers and patients are urged to find an alternative and perhaps make some lifestyle changes in order to control their conditions.
In all of the recent heartburn drug recalls, individuals here in Ohio and elsewhere are urged to stop taking Zantac and all generic forms of ranitidine right away. The problem is that it may already be too late for individuals who have taken this medication consistently for years. Even though it seems as though the Food and Drug Administration and the pharmaceutical companies have yet to receive any reports of harm done by ranitidine, making the connection between cancer and this medication only recently happened. Individuals who suspect a connection may want to explore their legal rights and options.
