Class action lawsuits happen quite often lately. With so many new drugs entering the market, it’s hard to keep track of which ones are safe and which ones are dangerous. One of the drugs that have been on the market for quite some time is Zantac. People have been taking this medication for years. Sadly, we found out in April of 2020 that the drug is not safe for use. This was confirmed by the FDA who ordered all manufacturers to stop producing the drug immediately. If you or your loved one have been diagnosed with cancer after taking Zantac, it’s critical that you speak with a class action lawyer right away.
What Is Zantac Used to Treat?
Zantac is primarily used to treat heartburn and a host of other digestion issues. Some people were prescribed the medication to help deal with stomach ulcers and acid reflux. Others have used the medication to treat GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease.) Basically, the drug can be used to treat any condition that involves an increase in stomach acid.
Like any other medication, Zantac has side effects. One of the most dangerous side effects of this medication is that it can cause pneumonia. In addition, it can cause a lack of appetite, chills or signs of a fever, bruising and bleeding and issues with your hair and skin. If you experienced any of these issues while taking Zantac, your doctor would have considered changing medications or lowering your dosage. Since the medication is no longer being prescribed, nobody should still be taking the drug. If you are, you need to talk to your doctor immediately. It’s never a good idea to stop taking a medication without talking to your physician.
Why Was the Drug Taken Off the Market?
When the news came out that the drug had been taken off the shelf, it was quite a shock. The drug had been prescribed to people suffering from ulcers and other stomach issues without issue for years. All of this came to an end last year when it was alleged that Zantac causes cancer. Researchers had found that the active ingredient in the medication, NDMA, was a cancer-causing agent. Even if the amount of NDMA in the medication was minimal, it could still be deemed dangerous. This is because the NDMA would become more active as time went by.
NDMA is the short name for an active ingredient called n-Nitrosodimethylamine. This is one of the ingredients in Zantac. As the product sits on the shelves in pharmacies, the NDMA becomes more active. This is because it contains unstable molecules that react to temperature changes.
What Kind of Cancer Has Been Linked to Zantac?
Zantac, as mentioned above, is used to treat stomach ulcers and other digestive issues. Ironically, the drug is said to cause such illnesses as stomach cancer. The drug has also been linked to several types of cancer, including:
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Prostate and colon cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
For people who take Zantac and happen to develop any of these types of cancer, they need to talk to a class action lawyer immediately.
Is There a Current Class Action Lawsuit You Can Join?
If you took Zantac for any significant period of time and developed cancer, you may have a potential claim against Zantac. If that’s the case, you would need to talk to one of our class action lawsuit attorneys and find out how you can join the litigation. In order to file a claim against Zantac, you must meet three (3) basic requirements:
- You took Zantac for a period of time. Your class action lawyer must demonstrate that you took the medication for a significant period of time. It is doubtful that somebody would get damages if they only took the drug for a couple of weeks.
- You have been diagnosed with cancer. If you’ve already been diagnosed with cancer, your doctor should have looked for a connection to a dangerous drug. If they haven’t made this connection, you can ask them about it. At the same time, you should call and talk to one of our class-action lawyers. They can review your file and determine if you have a potential claim for damages.
- There is a connection between the drug and your illness. It’s not enough that you get sick. Your attorney will have to show a connection between the medication and your cancer diagnosis. For example, they’ll have to show that you didn’t develop the illness until after you took the medication for a period of time.
If you feel you have a claim for damages after taking Zantac, it’s a good idea to call and speak with a class action lawyer.
