Earlier this year, the Federal Drug Administration demanded that all pharmacies discontinue the selling of Zantac. Zantac is a medication prescribed to patients who suffer from stomach and intestine ulcers. The FDA demanded this removal because they found traces of nitroso dimethylamine (NDMA) in the medicine. NDMA is found in many foods and liquids that we eat and drink, but in very small amounts. However, when taken in extreme portions, NDMA could potentially cause cancer.
The FDA has a specified a daily acceptable limit of this chemical. However, Zantac was found to have contained an amount of NDMA that is over the limit. This finding has caused the manufacturer of the drug Zantac to have 500 lawsuits brought against them.
What Types of Cancer are Caused by Zantac?
Since Zantac includes the particle compound of Ranitidine, the FDA has removed Zantac across all shelves. Ranitidine, the active ingredient in Zantac, has a molecular structure that makes it capable of creating cancers such as gallbladder cancer and liver cancer. As scientists continue to study the compound of NDMA, there could be other forms of cancer linked with this compound that have not been discovered yet.
What is NDMA?
NDMA is the combination of Nitrate (N) and Dimethylamine (DMA). NDMA is classified as a “probable human carcinogen” based on test results from multiple labs. Nitrate and Dimethylamine are found in many pharmaceutical drugs. They combine and form NDMA when they are packaged and stored different ways, as well as dissolved.
The Relationship Between NDMA and Cancer
NDMA is classified as a human carcinogen. A carcinogen is a compound that is linked to causing cancer in humans. Many medicines, specifically Zantac, include the material of Ranitidine. This compound includes a large amount of both nitrate and dimethylamine in its making. Once this material is ingested into the body and dissolved, it will release the nitrate and dimethylamine to create NDMA by connecting with each other. Because Ranitidine contains large amounts of the nitrate and dimethylamine, it produces several doses of NDMA that are dangerously too high for the human body to hold and above the FDA limit.
Speak with the Experienced Attorneys at Whitley Law Firm
The consequences of NDMA have are not going away with the removal of Zantac. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with Cancer of any sort and have used the heart burn medicine Zantac, you may still be entitled to financial compensation. With the experienced team at Whitley Law Firm, our attorneys can review your case and determine what actions can be taken. Contact us today to find out more about your options.
