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Zantac Lawsuit | Ranitidine Cancer Lawyer

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting that manufacturers withdraw all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications that contain ranitidine, the active ingredient in Zantac, over potential contamination with the cancer-causing toxin NDMA.
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C.L. Mike Schmidt Published by C.L. Mike Schmidt

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that the popular heartburn drug Zantac had been found to contain high levels of n nitrosodimethylamine ndma, a known human carcinogen (prostate cancer-causing substance).

This FDA warning came after a pharmacy in Connecticut discovered high levels of NDMA in Zantac. It has been reported that the levels of prostate cancer-causing NDMA are anywhere from 3,000 to 26,000 times higher than the legally allowable limit set by the FDA.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer after taking Zantac, you are not alone.

Zantac Lawsuit Status Update

A Zantac Class Action Lawsuit in California is the first to officially schedule a trial date. Zantac MDL judge Judge Evelio Grillo has set the start date for California Zantac litigation Cases JCCP 5150 for October 10, 2022.

Efforts to stop the Zantac MDL before the court in West Palm Beach, Florida, were rejected in October 2021. U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg ruled that cases can proceed. More than 800 cases in the Zantac Litigation are pending before Zantac MDL Judge Rosenberg.

While the California trial is the first to be scheduled, trials involving Zantac Lawyers in Florida, and an array of other Zantac Cancer Claims in states such as Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Washington could be scheduled to begin before the trial in Alameda.

The first trial before Judge Grillo is the first in a series of bellwether tests, beginning with a case the Zantac plaintiffs selected. Next up will be a case the defendants selected scheduled to begin February 6, 2023. The next two are scheduled for May 1, 2023 and August 7, 2023.

What is Zantac?

bowl of pink capsulesZantac belongs to a group of medicines known as histamine-2 blockers that work by reducing the amount of acid your stomach produces (acid reflux), according to WebMD [1].

Ranitidine hydrochloride is used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), ulcers in the stomach and/or intestines, and also to prevent conditions in which the stomach produces too much acid, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, peptic ulcer disease, and acid reflux.

Who Makes Zantac?

Zantac is manufactured and marketed by Sanofi, a French multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Paris.

Other Sanofi Lawsuits We’ve Taken On: Lemtrada Lawsuit

Zantac Lawsuit 2022 – Claims for Cancer Victims

Global health regulators in Europe and the United States have begun to warn that Zantac contains a cancer-causing ingredient called NDMA.

The Zantac warning came after a pharmacy in Connecticut discovered elevated levels of NDMA while testing Zantac.

It has been reported that the levels of cancer-causing NDMA are anywhere from 3,000 to 26,000 times higher than the legally allowable limit set by the FDA.

What is the Evidence that Zantac Causes Cancer?

In at least two studies, one in 2004 by the National Cancer Institute and another in 2016 by Teng Zeng and William A. Mitch of Stanford University, researchers found potential links between generic ranitidine products and certain types of cancer.

A survey of 24,000 Zantac users at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center found that ranitidine molecule use was associated with an increased chance of presenting with breast, testicular, thyroid, kidney and other types of cancer, according to Adamson and Chabner.

Related Articles:

Zantac Recall

Has Zantac been recalled?  Yes. Sanofi issued a recall for Zantac OTC [2] in the U.S. and Canada over potential NDMA contamination on October 18, 2019.

Generic Zantac Recalls

female drinking a capsule

  • February 27, 2020 – American Health Packaging [3] issues recall of generic ranitidine products, USP 150 mg, 100 count unit dose blisters over presence of of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) Impurity.
  • December 17, 2019 – Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc. [4] recalls all unexpired lots (150 mg & 300 mg) of its ranitidine products over potential NDMA contamination.
  • November 19, 2019 – Precision Dose Inc. recalls 5 lots of Ranitidine molecule over NDMA contamination [5].
  • September 25, 2019 – Apotex Corp. issues recall for Zantac [6] over Zantac cancer link.
  • September 23, 2019 – Sandoz recalls ranitidine [7] for NDMA contamination.

The FDA has recalled several other drugs due to NDMA contamination. These medications are called Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs), which are used to treat blood pressure problems and heart failure.

The agency has issued numerous recalls for NDMA contaminated ARBs including Valsartan, Diovan, Losartan, and Irbesartan.

What are Zantac’s Long-Term Effects / What Types of Cancer Does Zantac Cause?

Our Zantac attorneys are reviewing a potential Zantac class action lawsuit for people who developed cancer after taking Zantac:

  • woman in a hospital bedLiver cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Intestinal cancer
  • Stomach cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Testicular cancer
  • Otherv types of cancer

Other Zantac Side Effects

Cancer is not the only potential consequence of taking Zantac.

There are at least twenty other medical conditions linked to ranitidine use:

  • Liver failure or reduced liver function
  • Reduced kidney function
  • Reduced lung function
  • Enlarged liver
  • Jaundice
  • Skin rash
  • Hair loss
  • Hepatitis
  • Vitamin B-12 deficiency
  • Reduced platelet levels
  • Cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and/or tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)
  • Nervous system problems
  • Elevated pneumonia risks
  • Fever
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Stomach cramps, constipation and/or diarrhea
  • Dizziness, drowsiness, and/or sleep problems
  • Headaches
  • Tender breasts (in males)
  • Decreased sex drive

Some short-term effects of Zantac include scarring and fibrosis of the liver.

In addition, many people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after taking Zantac are also being diagnosed with:

  • Crohn’s Disease – an inflammatory bowel and digestive tract disease, causing diarrhea, pain, losing weight, and cramping; and/or
  • PPH (Primary Pulmonary Hypertension) – when the lungs’ blood vessels narrow, causing high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery

Zantac Recall

The Food & Drug Administration has ordered Zantac and its generics to be removed from the U.S. market [8], saying the medications have been exposing consumers to a risk of breast cancer.

The move comes 6 months after an independent lab issued a warning to the FDA about a risk of NDMA in Zantac, and nearly 3 months after another lab told the agency levels of NDMA could increase if Zantac is stored above room temperature.

“We didn’t observe unacceptable levels of NDMA in many of the samples that we tested. However, since we don’t know how or for how long the product might have been stored, we decided that it should not be available to consumers and patients unless its quality can be assured,” said Janet Woodcock, FDA director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “The FDA will continue our efforts to ensure impurities in other drugs do not exceed acceptable limits so that patients can continue taking medicines without concern.”

Walmart, CVS, Rite Aid Pull Zantac Over Cancer Risk

lawyer signing documentsSome of America’s largest pharmacy chains have halted sales of Zantac since news of the potential NDMA contamination broke, according to The New York Times [9].

Walmart, Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens removed Zantac and its generic versions following the FDA’s warning that it had detected the breast cancer-causing toxin in samples of the drug.

A Walgreens spokesman said on Monday that the company had pulled Zantac from its shelves “while the FDA continues its review of the products.” A Rite Aid spokesman said the retailer was in the process of removing Zantac and generic versions sold under the Rite Aid name from its shelves.”

How Does a Recall Affect the Way a Zantac Multidistrict Litigation Works?

The market withdrawal of Zantac isn’t going to be the final word in a case in which the plaintiff tries to link the medication to a diagnosis of breast cancer or any other illness.

The plaintiff still needs to prove their case against the manufacturer, and if the class action lawsuit goes to trial, the jury is largely free to give whatever weight it deems appropriate to the FDA’s recommendation.

On one hand, the FDA’s recommendation and the subsequent market withdrawal of Zantac might indicate that the drug was unreasonably dangerous, and that the Zantac manufacturers should have done more to warn consumers or to make the product safer.

But on the other hand, defendants facing a lawsuit over illness linked to ranitidine could turn this argument around and claim that for decades there was no reasonable basis to suspect a link between Zantac and cancer, and once a potential connection was found, appropriate action was taken.

How Does NDMA Cause Zantac Injuries?

N-nitrosodimethylamine is a semi-volatile organic chemical that belongs to a class of known potent carcinogens, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The chemical is used in gasoline, as a stabilizer for industry materials, and as a lubricant additive.

NDMA has also been used to make liquid rocket fuel, and is a byproduct of manufacturing certain pesticides and processing fish.

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Have you or a loved one suffered from the adverse side effects caused by defective medication?

Zantac Bladder Cancer Study

A recent study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that Zantac patients were more likely to develop bladder cancer compared to non-Zantac patients. Researchers gathered data from the World Health Organization.

They identified over 3,000 Zantac cases between 1999 and 2011. The researchers matched each case with no more than five controls. They accounted for age, gender, GP practice, and diagnosis date. The researchers identified Zantac, other H2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the prescription records.

The researchers reported that short-term Zantac use increased the bladder cancer risk by 22%. Taking the drug for at least 3 years increased the risk of a bladder cancer diagnosis by 43% compared to non-users.

The researchers found that proton pump inhibitor use, even long-term use, was not associated with bladder cancer. The researchers concluded that Zantac use, especially long-term use, increased the bladder cancer risk.

How Do Our Prescription Drugs Get Contaminated?

FDA’s investigation highlights the challenge federal regulators face when dealing with a global pharmaceutical industry that exports generic drugs from dozens of countries, nearly all of which follow vastly different processes in bringing their products to market, according to the World Health Organization [10].

Several of the medications recently found to be contaminated with NDMA are from China and India, raising questions about the safety protocol for drug-makers in those countries.

Poor quality control and efforts to conceal manufacturing problems from U.S. health regulators have complicated oversight of pharmaceutical companies overseas.

How Carcinogens Got Into the Generic U.S. Drug Supply: Bloomberg Video

FDA Recommendation

If you take Zantac, FDA is advising you to consult your physician with concerns about potential NDMA contamination, as well as your risk for getting cancer from the medication.

Do not stop taking Zantac without talking to your doctor first, as doing so could also lead to serious side effects and/or adverse reactions.

What are the Grounds for a Zantac Lawsuit?

A Zantac claim is a lawsuit filed by people who took Zantac and ranitidine contaminated with NDMA and later developed cancer. People filing Zantac and ranitidine lawsuits are seeking compensation from the Zantac manufacturers for stomach, bladder and other cancers associated with NDMA.

1.1 Defective design

Plaintiffs allege that ranitidine, the active ingredient in Zantac, is unstable and breaks down into NDMA. The first Zantac lawsuit was filed in 2019, where plaintiffs accused drug-makers Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim of manufacturing, marketing and selling a product they knew or should have known was contaminated with an industrial chemical known to cause cancer.

Improper labeling and failure to warn

The main claim in Zantac lawsuits filed is that defendants failed to properly warn the public that Zantac’s active ingredient, ranitidine, is unstable and can form NDMA in the stomach leading to an increased stomac cancer risk. Plaintiffs demand to be compensated for injuries and pain and suffering.

Zantac MDL & Cancer Lawsuits

Injury victims began to file lawsuits almost as soon as Zantac and ranitidine were recalled. The plaintiffs alleged they developed cancer after taking the medication for several years. Many more lawsuits soon followed.

Because of the number of lawsuits being filed, an MDL was created to coordinate the Zantac cancer cases. The Zantac MDL is located in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The Honorable Robin L. Rosenberg presides over the Zantac MDL.

Has the Zantac Lawsuit Been Settled?

Current Zantac lawsuits are still pending, but it is expected that plaintiffs will reach a Zantac lawsuit settlement with the drug manufacturers within the next several years.

There are more than a dozen drug makers that produce heartburn drug Zantac and generic ranitidine medications. So this may lead to a number of individual settlements occurring at different times.

Knowing the Value of Your Zantac Settlement

Zantac’s manufacturers will probably have to settle with many plaintiffs. Each plaintiff’s Zantac settlement will depend on their injuries and case. Since the Zantac lawsuit is about a link to cancer, a Zantac lawyer will look at each victim’s cancer case.

Those with worse injuries could have a much higher global Zantac settlement. For example, a stage four terminal cancer victim might receive higher compensation than a stage one cancer victim. If someone had more treatment or surgeries, they might be entitled to more money.
Other heartburn drug lawsuits:

Check out the other related dangerous drug lawsuits we’ve taken on.

What is the Average Payout for Zantac Lawsuits?

The average settlement in Zantac bladder cancer lawsuits is about $300,000; however, this does not mean the average Zantac lawsuit will be $300,000. Each litigation is different.

Zantac Cancer Lawsuit vs Zantac Class-Action Lawsuit

wooden gavelAlthough Schmidt & Clark, LLP, is a nationally recognized class action firm, we have decided against this type of litigation when it comes to pursuing Zantac lawsuits.

Our personal injury lawyers feel that if there is a successful resolution to these Zantac cases, individual suits, not class actions will be the best way to get maximum payouts to our clients.

If you’ve been injured by Zantac, we know you’ve suffered emotionally and economically, and want to work with you personally to obtain the maximum compensation for the damages caused by your injuries.

Contact us today to learn more about your legal rights.

How Do I Prove My Zantac Lawsuit?

First, to potentially qualify for a lawsuit, you have to prove use with a Zantac Lawyer. That means that you have to show that you took Zantac (or another form of ranitidine). If you took prescription ranitidine, this can be easily proven by asking for a copy of your pharmacy records.

Proving use of over-the-counter Zantac or another ranitidine product is a little more involved, but can be accomplished through receipts, notes in medical records or even basic corroborating evidence or statements that support the fact that you regularly took Zantac (ranitidine) for an extended period of time.

Second, you have to show an injury. That means that you will need to show that you have been diagnosed with one or more of the primary cancers listed above. Again, this can be easily proven by asking for a copy of your medical records.

Third, there has to be some proof that your Zantac (ranitidine) use and cancer diagnosis can be related. There are a lot of different factors that go into this, but it is generally what you would expect.

For example, taking higher doses of Zantac (ranitidine) more frequently is more helpful in proving a relationship, than sporadic use of lower dosages of Zantac (ranitidine).

Additionally, there is the issue of latency – also along the lines of what you would expect in that you will obviously not be able to relate taking one dose of Zantac (ranitidine) and being diagnosed the next day.

All of this comes down to a weighing of factors and the fairly worthless sounding advice you will hear from most Zantac Cancer Lawyers: “it depends.”

That being said, most experts say they are looking for at least a year of significant exposure, and at least a year of latency (about a year passed between the time you first took Zantac and the time you developed one of the listed primary cancers).

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Zantac Attorney?

Most Zantac cancer lawsuit attorneys will handle cases against the liable drug company based on contingency. This means it will cost you nothing upfront to hire an attorney.

This is a common way law firms in the United States handle personal injury cases. When working with a law firm that operates on contingency, you will not have to pay any fees out of pocket; instead, you will only need to pay for services if they secure an award on your behalf.

If your Zantac lawsuit attorney does not reach a settlement agreement or secure financial recovery in your case, you will likely not owe them any fees.

Thus, the cost to hire a Zantac attorney is affordable and you pay nothing upfront. This means they do not get paid unless they secure an economic recovery for you.

However, keep in mind that every law firm is different. Details regarding payment all rest on the agreement made between a client and their attorney at the onset of their working relationship.

Product Liability in Zantac Lawsuits

Most Zantac lawsuits rely on the legal concept of product liability, in which a plaintiff seeks to hold a manufacturer responsible for health problems caused by an unreasonably dangerous or otherwise defective pharmaceutical or consumer product. These kinds of cases can be quite complex.

There may be issues to address immediately, including the appropriate statute-of-limitations filing deadline if the plaintiff’s heartburn medication-linked illness didn’t show up right away. And there will be medical records to sift through, plus expert witnesses to hear from.

All this means some of the phases will undoubtedly take longer than they might in a less complex lawsuit. That’s especially true when it comes to the discovery process and the filing of pretrial motions that will set the ground rules for any trial.

And given that many individual Zantac lawsuits end up getting moved to the existing multi-district litigation, one case calendar will apply to hundreds of Zantac claims.

What To Do if You Took Zantac

If you are prescribed Zantac or took it at some point in the past, you should be concerned but:

Don’t Panic: Many consumer products are sold with toxic NDMA levels, Including alcoholic beverages, especially beer, some drinking water, meat products, and cheese.
Talk with your doctor: Switching medications now might be a wise decision to treat heartburn if you take Zantac. Your doctor can determine your cancer risks and what other products might be available for your condition.

Look for the signs and symptoms of NDMA toxicity or the development of cancer that could include:

  • Abdominal cramping
  • Jaundice (yellow eyes or skin)
  • Fever and dizziness
  • Vomiting or nausea
  • Slow or rapid heart rate

Recognizing any common signs early on can ensure that you receive the best medical care before you develop ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, liver cancer, or other medical conditions.

Learn more: There is lots of information online about the current status of Zantac and ranitidine products and why the Food and Drug Administration pulled prescription Zantac and Zantac Over-the-Counter (OTC) from the medical marketplace.

Consider talking to an attorney to understand your legal rights and holding the pharmaceutical company financially accountable for damages.

Zantac lawsuit attorneys working on your behalf can ensure Pharmaceutical companies adequately compensate you for your damages.

Questions Your Zantac Lawyer May Ask

What have you been diagnosed with?
Individuals filing Zantac lawsuits have been diagnosed with cancer by their doctor. The lawyer handling your case will want to know what you were officially diagnosed with and when.

How long did you take Zantac?
People seeking compensation for Zantac injuries generally had taken Zantac for at least 1 year before they received their cancer diagnosis. It may be hard to remember the length of time you took Zantac, but do your best to estimate this timeframe. It’s recommended that you provide your lawyer with copies of your prescription or medical records to support your Zantac claims.

How are you being treated for your cancer?
Come to your consultation prepared to discuss your cancer treatment plan with your attorney as well as whether it’s been working. Your treatment may depend on the type of cancer you have and the stage in which it was diagnosed.

Do you have a personal or family history of cancer?
If you or a member of your family have had cancer before, you may be more at risk of developing it again. Provide a copy of your medical records and be ready to discuss your family’s medical history.

Are you experiencing any other serious side effects?
While Zantac side effects are rare, you should let your attorney know if you’ve experienced issues with your central nervous system, cardiovascular side effects, gastrointestinal issues, liver failure or any other serious conditions. Let him or her know about the effect these have had on your ability to perform daily activities.

5 Steps to Filing a Zantac Lawsuit

Here are five (5) steps you should take when filing a Zantac Lawsuit:

1. Mitigating Damages

You should do everything possible to mitigate your injuries.

Steps to mitigate damages include:

  • Seeking proper medical care
  • Getting a diagnosis for injuries
  • Following the doctor’s orders
  • Doing everything in your power to minimize the costs and losses associated with injuries

Mitigation is extremely important in the process of building a strong and honest case with facts.

2. Hiring a Zantac Lawsuit Lawyer

The first step after mitigation is hiring a personal injury attorney who has experience handling bad drug lawsuits, such as the Zantac Lawsuit.

In the unfortunate event that you are representing a loved one who has died as a result of injuries from Zantac, you may need to consult with a wrongful death attorney who has knowledge of Zantac lawsuits.

Your experienced Zantac Lawsuit lawyer will work to:

  • Gather evidence
  • Establish liability
  • Assess damages
  • Navigate the litigation process
  • Get you compensated for your losses

3. Understand the Zantac Lawsuit Statute of Limitation

The statute of limitations bar the amount of time that an injured party has to take legal action following an injury or accident.

The Zantac Lawsuit Statute of Limitations differ by:

  • Type of Zantac litigation
  • The state in which the case is filed
  • The type of injury

Generally, a Zantac lawsuit plaintiff has 2 years to file a lawsuit following his or her cancer diagnosis.

However, this is not always the case.

It is best to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to determine your Zantac injury statute of limitations.

4. Gather Evidence

Evidence will help to prove the total cost of losses that you endured as a result of your injury, also known as your damages.

Your attorney will assist you in gathering evidence, but it is helpful if you start gathering evidence yourself as soon as you find out about your injury.

Common types of evidence in Zantac lawsuits include:

  • Receipts of purchase of Zantac
  • Medical records & bills
  • Personal accounts of injury, such as journals
  • Photos & videos of injury progression
  • Proof of time off from work
  • Proof of other costs associated with injury

5. Assess Damages

Damages are the total losses, both non-economic and economic, that an injured party incurs as a result of their injury.

In many personal injury lawsuits, the injured party will choose to file for both compensatory damages and punitive damages.

After assessing all damages that you incurred, your Zantac attorney will file a complaint demanding compensation to repay your damages.

Common damages in Zantac Lawsuits include:

  • Medical expenses resulting from injuries
  • Future medical expenses resulting from the injuries
  • Pain and suffering, both physical and mental health, caused by the injuries, treatment, and recovery period
  • Wage loss, loss of earning capacity
  • Other costs associated with our injuries
  • Loss of enjoyment of life resulting from damages
  • Loss of life
  • Punitive damages against the manufacturer

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