Hello, welcome back to my blog. Yes, Zantac (Ranitidine) contains a cancer causing agent called N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA.) Don’t worry, you can’t find Zantac (Ranitidine) anymore over the counter because all prescription (including oral and injectable) and OTC ranitidine formulations have been withdrawn from the US market as of April 2020. Edney, Anna, et al wrote an amazing article on Bloomberg and here area summary of few importance figures:
If you are interested for more complete information, you can find the article here.
What is Zantac?
Zantac (Ranitidine) is a Histamine h2 Antagonist that was approved by the FDA to use over the counter for these symptoms: Duodenal ulcer, Gastric ulcer, benign, Gastroesophageal reflux disease, Heartburn prevention or relief.
Over the counter means that it is easily accessible to the public. You can just walk in your local pharmacy and purchase it without a prescription from your doctor.
What should I do if I take Zantac?
Stop immediately. Per package insert, you can dispose of it by flushing it down the toilet or throwing it in the trash.
If I can’t take Zantac (Ranitidine) anymore, what else can I take?
No worries, there are other Histamine H2 Antagonists that are also available over the counter. Here is the list and where you can find them:
| Brand name | Available in generic? | Price | Indications | Where can I find it? |
| Tagamet | Yes, Cimetidine | $7.99 for a box of sixty count 200mg tablet | Heartburn, Interstitial cystitis, Stress ulcer prophylaxis in critically ill patients | Any local pharmacy |
| Pepcid; Pepcid AC Maximum Strength | Yes, Famotidine | $5.28 for a box of fifty count 20 mg tablet | Gastroesophageal reflux disease, treatment, Stress ulcer prophylaxis in select critically ill patients | Any local pharmacy |
| Axid AR | No | $16.29 for a box of 50 count | Gastroesophageal reflux disease | Hard to find |
Do I qualify for a lawsuit?
I am not a lawyer so I can’t give you any legal advice. But I would say that if you think Zantac is one of the reasons for your poor health or cancer, please seek guidance from a lawyer who can help you build a case.
Let’s learn some history
This event is one of the numerous incidents that happened in history where laws were created because of them. If we don’t know our history, we are deemed to fail again. Here are some historical benchmarks that helped create a safer practice when it comes to medication producing and dispensing:
The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. “When Upton Sinclair’s 1906 novel The Jungle revealed food adulteration and unsanitary practices in meat production, public outrage prompted Congress to establish federal responsibility for public health and welfare. The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 prohibited the sale of misbranded or adulterated food and drugs in interstate commerce and laid a foundation for the nation’s first consumer protection agency, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)”. More can be found here.
The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938. The new law brought cosmetics and medical devices under control, and it required that drugs be labeled with adequate directions for safe use. More can be found here.
The Durham-Humphrey Amendment of 1951 divided drugs into two classes: prescription (Rx) and over the counter (OTC). this bill required any drug that was habit-forming or potentially harmful to be dispensed under the supervision of a health practitioner as a prescription drug and must carry the statement, “Caution: Federal law prohibits dispensing without prescription.” More can be found here.
These are just a few examples of events that make it possible for us to practice safe medicine.
In conclusion
You can now find a reformulated version of Zantac, which is Zantac 360 but with famotidine as an active ingredient. Yes this is very confusing. Before it was Zantac (Ranitidine) and now it is Zantac360 (Famotidine). Stories like this make my heart heavy. My sympathy goes out to patients whose healths are heavily affected by this product.
