What Is NDMA?

The current media coverage regarding the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) market withdrawal of the common heartburn medication Zantac has been extensive – exactly because this withdrawal has such important health implications. The crux of the matter is that the contaminate N-Nitrosodimethylamine – or NDMA – has been identified in Zantac (and other ranitidine products). NDMA is deemed a probable carcinogen by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency of Research on Cancer (IARC), which elevates the matter to a level of serious importance and legal consideration.

Making the Connection

While the FDA withdrew Zantac in April of 2020, the online pharmacy Valisure identified DMF (a solvent that can form contaminants such as NDMA) in the spring of 2019 during the course of routine quality testing of the drugs it sells. Valisure found that there were consistently high levels of NDMA across all ranitidine products in all lots. With this finding, several major drugstore chains pulled all Zantac and other popular ranitidine medications from their shelves – many months before the FDA announced its own market withdrawal.

Commonly Associated Cancers

• Bladder Cancer
• Liver Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Esphageal Cancer
• Stomach Cancer
• Colorectal Cancer
• Kidney Cancer
• Cancer

If you or someone you love regularly took Zantac or another ranitidine product and later developed cancer, an experienced drug injury attorney may be able to help.