Zantac is one of the most popular medications available. Unfortunately, there is a significant link between Zantac and developing cancer. Doctors have been prescribing Zantac, an antacid drug, since the 1980s. Millions of people have used the drug Zantac as well as its generic equivalents every day for years to prevent acid reflux. Recent lab testing of ranitidine, the active ingredient in Zantac, has shown that these medications contain high levels of a chemical known as NDMA. NDMA has been known to cause cancer.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety warning in September 2019 warning about the cancer risks associated with taking Zantac. There has now been a Zantac recall. Products with the chemical ranitidine have been recalled abruptly from stores around the country. People who have taken Zantac could have been unknowingly ingesting high levels of NDMA.
How Dangerous is NDMA?
Currently, over-the-counter Zantac products are no longer on the market while experts investigate how dangerous the NDMA chemical can be to humans. NDMA is an incredibly toxic carcinogen. The primary use of this chemical is to induce tumors experimentally in animals. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the daily limit for NDMA for most people is 96 nanograms. The company Valisure has detected an excess of 3,000,000 nanograms of NDMA per tablet when analyzing products with ranitidine.
Legal Experts Predict a Massive Wave of Zantac Class Actions Related to Zantac
Most legal experts predict that plaintiffs will begin filing a massive wave of Zantac-related lawsuits. As of March 2020, over 200 cancer Zantac lawsuits have been filed in federal court. These lawsuits are likely the tip of the iceberg of mass-torts related to Zantac. Millions of Americans have used Zantac for years to prevent heartburn.
Individual lawsuits regarding Zantac are now consolidated under Judge Robin L. Rosenberg in Florida for consolidated pretrial proceedings. This judge will set the rules for the class action lawsuit as attorneys from around the country try to determine how much drug companies knew about the alleged cancer-causing chemical NDMA that they included in their product.
Understanding Multidistrict Litigation in Mass Tort Cases
Multidistrict litigation is a special legal procedure that allows judges to bundle their complex and sprawling lawsuits. One judge will handle all of the pretrial matters. The currency multidistrict litigation involving Zantac in Florida is the single largest multidistrict litigation in the history of the United States. One plaintiff’s lawyer has stated that he expects at least 100,000 plaintiffs to join the class-action lawsuit.
Holding Drug Manufacturers Accountable
It seems as though the manufacturers of the drug Zantac have been more interested in making a profit than with the health of people taking the drug. Plaintiffs allege that drug manufacturers knew about the dangers associated with Zantac as early as the 1980s but failed to disclose the dangers of these products to doctors, the health community, or the public at large.
Currently, over 230 plaintiffs have joined the mass tort litigation of MDL 2924 In Re: Zantac (Ranitidine) Products Liability Litigation. The judge presiding over this case has created a Plaintiff’s Steering Committee. This committee is made up of 10 men and 10 women. The judge has also created a Leadership Development Committee, which allows a greater number of lawyers into the mass tort litigation. It remains to be seen how many other plaintiffs will join in the mass tort litigation, but the number could exceed 100,000.
What to do if You Have Been Taking Zantac
If you have been exposed to Zantac, you are likely understandably concerned about your health. You may wonder what you should do. If you or a loved one have been prescribed with Zantac, or have purchased the drug, and you have suffered adverse side effects, you could be entitled to compensation. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, or you have suffered other serious medical complications, you may be entitled to compensation.
Contact Our Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers as Soon as Possible
The best thing you can do is to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer who will represent your best interests. At Heninger Garrison Davis, we have decades of legal experience advocating for victims of dangerous and defective drugs. The sooner you speak with an experienced lawyer, the better. We can help you navigate the process of joining in mass tort litigation. Contact our Alabama personal injury lawyers today to learn how we can help you seek compensation.
