What Types of Cancers are Caused by Zantac?
At the end of last year, scientists finally confirmed that Zantac, otherwise known by its generic name, ranitidine, had been contaminated by the B2 carcinogen, NDMA. Though the manufacturers of the popular heartburn drug were alerted to the contamination since the ’80s, they continued with its production and distribution.
More than 60 million Americans take this drug every single year. This means that countless people have been exposed to the potentially life-threatening effects of compromised batches of Zantac. With the help of Zantac settlement lawyers at Riddle and Brantley, described below are the several different types of cancers that can occur as a result of prolonged exposure.
The Connection Between Zantac and Cancer
Scientists have confirmed that Zantac has been contaminated with the chemical compound, NDMA, or N-nitrosodimethylamine. According to current scientific knowledge, the chemical has been the direct cause of cancer development in an array of animals. Thus, it has the potential of causing brain cancer in human beings.
It’s important to know exactly what makes the presence of NDMA in Zantac harmful. While the compound is present at low levels in water and various types of food, the concentrations present in these substances are not harmful to human health.
What makes the presence of NDMA in Zantac so dangerous is the amount that is concentrated in the drug. In 2016, researchers tested urine samples of individuals who had taken 150mg tablets of ranitidine. They discovered over 47,000 nanograms of the carcinogen in the samples. This number stunningly exceeds the daily limit (96 nanograms) imposed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The astronomical concentrations of NDMA in this drug is beyond unacceptable.
Types of Cancers That Can Be Caused by Zantac Consumption
One recent study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) linked the ingestion of NDMA with an increased risk of brain cancer. Their findings related to brain cancer, in particular, have been substantially supported by an additional study that was published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology. Still, this is not the only form of cancer that can result from prolonged exposure to this drug.
Additional cancers that may result from taking NDMA-contaminated Zantac or ranitidine include:
- Colorectal cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Lung cancer
- Throat or nasal cancer
- Liver cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Leukemia
- Pancreatic cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Intestinal cancer
- Breast cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Although studies have confirmed that the concentrations of NDMA in Zantac are unbelievably high, scientists know that exposure to even small amounts of NDMA can have devastating effects. The chemical can cause irreversible changes to DNA as well as extensive damage to internal organs. Currently, the compound is legally categorized as a B2 carcinogen, meaning that it is a “probable human carcinogen.”
This means that although it is not guaranteed that you will develop cancer as a result of taking Zantac, the chance of this happening is still enough to cease your consumption of the drug. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with lethal brain cancer or a similar condition after having taken Zantac, it’s time to get in touch with a lawyer. The legal assistance is a necessity for holding the drug manufacturers accountable for their negligence, and to get you the compensation needed to financially support your treatment.
