Learn About Zantac® Side Effects

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Zantac® (ranitidine) is a popular heartburn medication taken by millions of people across the nation. Previously available in prescription and over-the-counter versions, most people tolerated the commonly used drug well, experiencing only mild side effects.

However, in April 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered that all ranitidine (the main ingredient found in Zantac®) medications be pulled from the market due to the discovery of the chemical N-nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, in the drug. NDMA is a known carcinogen in humans.

As a result of the recall, ranitidine products, including Zantac®, will no longer be available for prescription or over-the-counter use in the United States. The FDA has advised people currently taking ranitidine products to stop and safely dispose of any unused medications they may still have at home.

Lawsuit Information

In light of the FDA’s recall, lawsuits are claiming that drugmakers knew about the presence of NDMA in Zantac®, but didn’t properly warn users. Learn more about the pending litigation and whether you qualify.

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Common Side Effects of Zantac®

In early clinical trials, the side effects of Zantac® were reported to be mild and infrequent, and many people did not experience side effects at all. The most commonly reported side effects from clinical trials were:

Constipation
Diarrhea
Headache
Fatigue
Insomnia
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Stomach issues, such as nausea and vomiting

In 2018, there were more than 25 million prescriptions for ranitidine medications, according to Bloomberg Intelligence data. But only 4,103 adverse events were reported in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) for generic and brand name Zantac® in the same year.

While the most commonly reported side effects are mild, it’s still always important to talk to a doctor any time you experience issues with a drug you’re taking. Your doctor may be able to adjust your medication or advise you to stop taking it to avoid further complications.

woman experiencing stomach issues after taking Zantac®

Other Severe and Rare Zantac® Side Effects

On some occasions, users reported more serious side effects and the drug’s insert stated that serious Zantac® side effects are rare.

These severe side effects include:

Liver failure
Irregular heartbeat
Dark urine
Jaundice
Loss of appetite
Muscle weakness
Easy bruising, bleeding, and blistering of the skin
A serious cough with mucus

If you have experienced any of these serious side effects, stop taking the drug immediately and contact your doctor right away.

These side effects should not be ignored, as they can indicate a much more serious problem. Any time you have issues like the above, it’s vital that you seek medical attention.

Zantac® Linked to Cancer: What You Need to Know

Initial studies of Zantac® showed the drug to be safe and effective for most people, with researchers confirming the “excellent safety profile of ranitidine.”

Zantac® first entered the market in the 1980s and since became one of the best-selling drugs in the history of the pharmaceutical industry, as it was among the first drugs to top $1 billion in annual sales. Millions of people trusted Zantac® and its generic equivalents, as they thought it to be a safe and effective antacid drug with a low risk of experiencing the side effects listed above.

But in the summer of 2019, independent lab testing conducted by Valisure detected high levels of NDMA in batches of ranitidine and alerted the FDA. As a result, several ranitidine manufacturers voluntarily recalled their products.

The FDA has since been conducting ongoing research into Zantac®’s safety and discovered that when the drug is ingested or stored, especially at higher temperatures, for a long period of time, ranitidine can convert into unsafe levels of NDMA.

The question being asked now is whether ranitidine drugmakers knew about the cancer risk all along, or should have known, and did nothing to stop it or warn the public.

Man receiving treatment for cancer caused by Zantac®

Have You Been Diagnosed With Cancer After Taking Zantac®?

If you, like many other Americans, have been a regular user of Zantac® and have since been diagnosed with any form of cancer, you may be wondering what to do next.

As a result of the FDA’s findings and the recent recall, lawsuits are being brought against Sanofi and other Zantac® makers. While the companies did warn users about the mild and rare side effects they may experience while taking Zantac®, they failed to mention one of the most severe and life-threatening health risks of all: cancer.

If you’re facing a cancer diagnosis after using Zantac®, the first thing to know is that you’re not alone. You have rights under the law, and you have an ally at Goldwater Law Firm. Together with our network of Zantac® lawyers, we are helping people across the country who have been diagnosed with cancer take action against Big Pharma’s recklessness that harms innocent people every year.

If you have any questions about the cancer risk associated with Zantac® and whether you have a case, please don’t wait to call us at 800-210-9700 or fill out our online form today.