What Do I Do If I’ve Been Affected by Zantac?
Updated On October 12, 2021 | by Benjamin Garfield
Zantac was a very popular heartburn medication that has been used for years by millions of Americans. The drug was developed and approved by the FDA decades ago, and it was a treatment option that was trusted by the majority of people and medical professionals. Zantac was sold OTC and by prescription, which means it was highly accessible. Even though it’s most commonly used on an as-needed basis, many people have reported using Zantac for years to treat their acid reflux, heartburn, and stomach ulcers.
Zantac was recently pulled from the shelves when the products were found to contain a dangerous carcinogen. The chemical NDMA was found in Zantac and its generic equivalent, and NDMA has been linked to different types of cancer in humans and animals. While the drug Zantac is highly effective with short-term use, the problem lies in the fact that people have used it on and off for years as needed. This has led to high levels of NDMA building up in people’s systems, and this is what is linked with the diagnosis of cancer. If you or a loved one has used Zantac in the past and has recently been diagnosed with cancer, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The following guide can help you navigate the process for filing the Zantac lawsuit and help you better understand your situation.
Finding the Right Legal Representation
Pursuing a Zantac lawsuit can be complicated, which is why potential plaintiffs shouldn’t go at it alone. Pharmaceutical companies are powerful and well connected, which means you need a dedicated and tenacious team of personal injury attorneys on your side when you face them.
The law firm Sibley Dolman Gipe has experienced Zantac lawsuit attorneys that can help you take on the drug companies and win. Their team of attorneys has won over $200 million in compensation for over 6,000 plaintiffs, and the number is only growing. If you believe that you or a loved one may qualify for a spot in the multidistrict litigation case against Zantac, or an individual lawsuit, their law firm can help. You can meet with their attorneys for a free consultation where you can discuss your legal options and the strength of your potential lawsuit.
Understanding the Health Risks Associated with Zantac
The cancer risk associated with Zantac use comes from the traces of NDMA that have been found in the products. NDMA was originally a chemical used in rocket fuel for years. Eventually, NDMA was recalled by the EPA when it was discovered that it had toxic properties that were contaminating the air and water when it was burned. As you can imagine, if it was toxic and carcinogenic with second-hand exposure, direct NDMA exposure through Zantac products is especially dangerous.
The existence of NDMA in Zantac isn’t as an active ingredient, but as a contaminant. The NDMA contamination occurred as a result of a chemical reaction during the manufacturing process, which was never the intent of the drug manufacturers. Although the contamination was a mistake, the drug makers are still liable as there is evidence that they knew of the contamination and failed to warn users or voluntarily recall their products.
Qualifying for the Zantac Lawsuit
To qualify for a place in the multidistrict litigation suit currently in the works against the makers of Zantac, you must meet a certain set of criteria. You must have been a regular or daily user of Zantac in the past and have been diagnosed with an associated type of cancer. The particular types of cancer that have been linked to Zantac use typically occur in the digestive tract and/or blood.
There is also a required period of latency, meaning the period since you began using Zantac must be a year before your cancer diagnosis—at minimum. The latency period requirements can potentially change depending on the type of cancer you’ve been diagnosed with after using the product.
