Personal injury lawyers have been helping the victims of cancer, caused by Zantac, a medication that was formerly used to relieve symptoms of acid reflux. Zantac is the brand name for the medicine Ranitidine, a Histamine-2 blocker that reduces the production of acid.
You might wonder how the medication was linked to cancer. NDMA is a carcinogenic chemical compound discovered in Ranitidine at dangerously high levels. It was almost 9 times more than the amount approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
The World Health Organization (WHO) started implying that NDMA is a carcinogen as early as 2008. However, initially, nobody expected to discover that this highly dangerous chemical was just sitting there in their medicine cabinet, disguised as a stomach medicine.
The prolonged use of Zantac was found to cause stomach cancer, which can be fatal. Patients diagnosed with stomach or other forms of cancer because of the use of Zantac can file a lawsuit to get compensation for their suffering. (Source: https://www.rosenfeldinjurylawyers.com/stomach-cancer.html)
To know more about how Zantac causes cancer and what the class-action lawsuit is all about, continue reading:
Zantac stomach cancer lawsuit
People who have been diagnosed with cancer after using Zantac are liable to claim compensation. Lawsuits are currently being filed by such people. GlaxoSmithKline, a drug company is also facing a Zantac stomach cancer lawsuit for not disclosing the carcinogenic effect of Zantac.
While everyone has their eyes on the Zantac stomach cancer lawsuit, the discovery of NDMA in medication is nothing new. Not too long ago, NDMA was found in another popular OTC drug called Valsartan.
The FDA has set a daily limit for NDMA consumption of 96 nanograms (ng). Numerous studies have found that when Ranitidine is combined with abdomen fluid and sodium nitrites, which speed up the digestive process, a significant amount of NDMA is formed. When exposed to simulated abdomen circumstances, Ranitidine generated nearly 304,500 ng of NDMA per tablet.
The FDA announced in late 2019 that it was investigating claims that Zantac (Ranitidine) was sullied with NDMA based on research from an independent lab.
It is rather a worrisome issue to be not looked upon that healthcare components that are supposed to provide relief to the consumers are causing such harm.
What to do if you have been diagnosed with cancer after intaking Zantac?
If you have been diagnosed with cancer after the ingestion of Zantac, tell your doctor about the history of Zantac usage. It does not matter whether or not cancer has been in your family history until the history of Ranitidine usage is involved.
Keep or find your doctors’ notes and prescriptions and all the necessary records that indicate the cause of your cancer is Zantac consumption. You may file a lawsuit against the Zantac manufacturers and distributors and claim compensation for it.
Who can claim compensation?
The drug’s label states that Zantac (Ranitidine) is excreted through the kidneys and processed by the liver, therefore anyone with kidney disease, reduced renal function, or liver difficulties should tell their doctors about their condition.
Furthermore, persons with a history of acute porphyria should not take Zantac with Ranitidine because it may provoke severe attacks. Cancer and other health conditions caused by Zantac include:
- Stomach cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Breast cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Colon cancer
- Blood disorders such as hemolytic anemia
- Gynecomastia
- Liver failure and hepatitis
- Kidney failure
Anyone who derived cancer due to the usage of Zantac is liable to claim financial compensation from Zantacs’ makers for:
- Loss of income due to illness
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Compensation for medical bills for cancer treatment
- Loss of life of a bereaved
- Other intangible damages
Statute of limitation
You have the right to claim compensation but the statute of limitation for Zantach’s lawsuit is allowed within two years. That means if your doctor has diagnosed you with cancer due to Zantac consumption you have only two years to file a lawsuit against Zantacs’ manufacturers and distributors.
Statue of limitation exceptions
There are exceptions to the statute of limitations for
- Defendants if they left the state
- Defendants who were concealed
- A plaintiff who was unaware of the cause of his health condition
- A plaintiff who was diagnosed years ago but is now aware of what caused their health condition
Conclusion
Zantac has been contaminated with NDMA, a carcinogenic compound and we highly recommend you to visit your doctor if you have been using the medication. If you have been diagnosed with cancer caused due to this medication irrespective of whether or not you had a family history of cancer, you can talk to lawyers and claim compensation for your medical bills, loss of time, and enjoyment of life, bereaved of the family.