Zantac has long been a popular antacid – an over-the-counter medication used to treat heartburn. But it has recently been recalled and linked to forms of cancer. If you have been a victim of these severe dangers, contact the Zantac cancer lawyers of Bisnar Chase now.
If you have taken Zantac or a different version of ranitidine medication, this article will give you all the information you need on filing a Zantac lawsuit. We outline the drug dangers and criteria for taking legal action.
Bisnar Chase excels in personal injury and class action cases. Contact us today for a free consultation! We have a 99% success rate and take pride in fighting for our clients. If you have fallen victim to negligent drug companies that put profits before people, let us fight for the compensation you deserve.
Zantac Cancer Resources
What is Zantac?
Zantac is the brand name for a widely used heartburn drug called ranitidine. While Zantac first secured FDA approval as an ulcer-fighting medication in 1983, ranitidine has been used since 1981. Zantac even became the world’s best-selling drug in 1988.
Healthcare giant GlaxoSmithKline PLC first created and still produces Zantac, while generic forms ranitidine antacids have been available since 1997.
It comes in tablet form and is used to reduce the amount of acid produced in a person’s stomach. This has made it one of the top-selling heartburn medications in the United States for several decades.
Zantac and ranitidine are also used to stop stomach ulcers from developing, as well as being taken to treat a range of throat and stomach conditions, including esophagitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease. It comes in varying doses and can be prescribed by doctors or bought over the counter.
While Zantac is the top brand name associated with ranitidine, a wide range of different brands and generic versions of the drugs are now sold. These include generic heartburn meds sold by Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid, which all contain the same active ingredient.
The Zantac Recall
Concerns were first raised over the safety of Zantac in 2019.
An initial alert was issued after an impurity was discovered in a different drug that contains ranitidine. The impurity is labeled NDMA (also known as N-Nitrodimethylamine) and is known to cause cancer.
The discovery pushed regulators to examine samples of Zantac. The following is a timeline of the Zantac recall:
➤ September 2019: FDA issued a warning to healthcare providers and patients that NDMA had been discovered in ranitidine
➤ September 2019: Voluntary recall of drugs containing ranitidine
➤ November 2019: FDA reveals increased testing and discovery of NDMA in ranitidine and nizatidine (a similar drug also used in antacids)
➤ April 2020: All Zantac and generic ranitidine medications were removed from the market by the FDA over safety fears
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted in-depth tests over several months before enforcing the removal of Zantac from stores. The authority has banned both over-the-counter and prescription use of the drugs.
Now is the time to take legal action. If you have been taking Zantac or a generic version of the meds, and have developed a form of cancer, contact the Zantac cancer attorneys at Bisnar Chase for expert guidance now.
Dangerous Zantac Side Effects
Why is Zantac (and its generic alternatives) dangerous and what are the cancer risks from taking it? The key is the N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) discovered within the ranitidine. NDMA is a carcinogen and has been strongly linked to the development of cancer.
Most people are exposed to small levels of NDMA when they eat and drink. However, the amounts found in Zantac have been described as “unacceptable” by the FDA. Cancer can be caused when people are exposed to high amounts of NDMA over a sustained period – as they would with frequently taken heartburn medication.
N-nitrosodimethylamine can be created unintentionally through manufacturing and chemical processes. Reports claim that the levels of NMDA found in ranitidine are up to 26,000 times the safe and acceptable limit.
It is linked to:
- Stomach cancer
- Colon cancer
- Liver cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Intestinal cancer
- Tumors in several organs, including the liver and lungs
Other symptoms caused in the human body can include reduced organ function, headaches, fever, nausea, and more.
Cancers and tumors can be deadly and may require extreme treatments such as radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.
Zantac Lawsuits
If a person has developed cancer after taking Zantac or generic ranitidine, they may be able to file a lawsuit. Victims in Zantac cancer cases have developed potentially deadly diseases through no fault of their own and deserve to be compensated.
But taking on a legal case can be daunting. Your best chance of success is to trust an experienced injury attorney or class action lawyer with your case. The Zantac cancer attorneys at Bisnar Chase are here to help.
A Zantac cancer lawsuit works in the same way as any other personal injury lawsuit.
- Receive a cancer diagnosis after exposure to NDMA in ranitidine
- Hire a Zantac cancer lawyer
- Work with your attorney to build a case
- Your Zantac cancer attorney will file a lawsuit against the responsible parties
In Zantac cancer cases, lawsuits will be filed against the manufacturers of the drug, as well as distributors and sellers. Each of these parties may have contributed to victims developing life-threatening conditions and must be held accountable.
Zantac Class Action Lawsuits
A legal challenge can become a class action suit if multiple plaintiffs sue the same parties. The group of plaintiffs is known as a ‘class’.
Class actions are usually launched when a large number of people have experienced the same form of harm due to a certain condition. They are often used in injury cases involving pharmaceutical negligence and dangerous drugs.
In the case of Zantac lawsuits, if a large number of people come forward with similar symptoms and conditions after using the same ranitidine heartburn medication, a class action could be formed against the manufacturers and distributors of the drug.
Current Zantac Lawsuit Case Studies
As of March 2020, there had been more than 140 cases filed by Zantac lawsuit plaintiffs across the United States.
The current ranitidine lawsuits claim that manufacturers and distributors have caused serious harm to customers, and knowingly put people in danger by concealing the Zantac risks and continuing to sell it after the first FDA warning.
A huge number of additional lawsuits are expected in the coming months and years as victims continue to develop cancerous conditions. Millions of people have used Zantac and its generic equivalents and could be suffering from harmful side effects.
The likely value of the ongoing Zantac lawsuits to victims is unknown. However, recent Roundup weed killer cases and talcum powder cases – which also featured victims developing forms of cancer – have resulted in verdicts and settlements ranging into millions of dollars.
If you have used Zantac or generic ranitidine products and been diagnosed with a form of cancer, contact the Zantac cancer lawyers at Bisnar Chase now.
Do You Have a Zantac Case?
There are two criteria that victims must fulfill to file a Zantac lawsuit. Victims must:
➤ Have developed stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, intestinal cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and/or kidney cancer
AND
➤ Have used Zantac products (or a generic equivalent) for 1+ years
If you have been diagnosed with cancer after prolonged ranitidine use, our expert Zantac cancer attorneys are here for you.
Zantac Cancer Compensation
As mentioned, while there have been many Zantac lawsuits filed, there have been no verdicts or settlements yet. This means that there is no benchmark to predict future compensation for victims.
However, several factors can dictate the level of compensation that could be awarded.
- The type of injury or condition sustained
- Pain and suffering
- Long-term and ongoing health issues
- The considerable medical costs involved with cancer treatment
- Loss of quality of life
- Lost wages and capacity to work
- Emotional damage
Contact a Zantac cancer attorney to learn more about the compensation you might be eligible for if your case is successful.
Zantac Cancer FAQs
Those who have developed cancers after taking Zantac are likely to have a lot of questions. We have a series of frequently asked questions relating to Zantac lawsuits listed below. While some questions are answered in more detail throughout the article, this FAQ gives victims easy access to quick answers.
If you have a question that has not been answered, please do not hesitate to contact us now.
Yes – Zantac is the brand name for the drug ranitidine. This means that ranitidine is the active ingredient in Zantac, but is also available in unbranded generic form. Both Zantac and generic ranitidine have been recalled and can be the subject of a lawsuit.
All heartburn or antacid medications with ranitidine as its key ingredient have been recalled by the FDA in the U.S. This includes Zantac, as well as generic forms of the drug sold by stores such as Walgreens and CVS. For more information on recalled medications, contact Bisnar Chase.
Zantac has been recalled because it has the potential to cause cancer in users. This is because a dangerous impurity called NDMA has been discovered in the active ingredient of Zantac. Different people will be affected differently by NDMA, but some will develop cancer.
If you have been diagnosed with cancer (of the stomach, esophagus, intestine, colon, liver, prostate, or kidney), and have been using Zantac or a generic version of the medication for at least one year, you could be eligible to file a lawsuit. Contact Bisnar Chase to find out.
By hiring Bisnar Chase for your Zantac case you will not face any out of pocket expenses. Anyone can receive free legal advice with a no-cost initial consultation with no obligation. If you decide to sign with us, we offer a ‘No Win, No Fee’ promise.
Hiring the Right Zantac Lawyer
Bisnar Chase is a top-rated law firm with four decades of handling injury cases and class action lawsuits. We have experience in taking on all kinds of cases, including Roundup cancer cases and other pharmaceutical lawsuits.
If you have developed cancer after using a heartburn medication, we are here to fight for you.
Our compassionate attorneys are dedicated to offering superior representation. We will ease the burden on you and allow you to focus on treatment and recovery while we secure justice for you.
We believe in holding wrongdoers accountable. In this case that means the manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of ranitidine medication.
Bisnar Chase has won compensation for more than 12,000 clients throughout California and across the U.S. We are based in Southern California and are proud to help the communities of Orange County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, San Bernardino, as well as those based further away.
We have a 99% success rate and have won more than $650 million for our clients. Better yet, you will not pay a penny if we do not win for you.
Contact the Zantac cancer lawyers of Bisnar Chase for a free case evaluation now! Call (800) 561-4887, click to email us, or use our live chat website feature.
