CVS is among one of the many companies in the United States who have decided to voluntarily recall the acid-reducing medication Zantac, and generic versions of the drug known as ranitidine from their shelves. Other companies who have taken part in the recall are places like Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart, and pharmaceutical companies like Sandoz, Sanofi, and Glenmark Pharmaceutical Inc. Many countries in the European Union have decided to enact a mandatory recall on the medication, but for now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been satisfied with issuing ongoing updates about their research and has yet issued their own mandatory ban.
A Connecticut-based online pharmacy named Valisure reported to the FDA that when digestive, Zantac and ranitidine produced a nitrosamine impurity known as N-nitroso-dimethylamine in the body, which is listed as a probable human carcinogen (a substance that could cause cancer). Although the FDA recognizes the potential risks associated with this substance, they do not believe that the levels present in Zantac necessitate a mandatory recall and discontinuation of the medication. They are additionally skeptical about the testing methods used to produce the NDMA because Verisure heated the medications in significant excess of the human bodies which is a known way to produce the impurity.
If you have been prescribed Zantac or ranitidine in the past and are unsure of how to proceed to make sure that your consumer rights are protected and that you have legal help if you were to experience negative side effects from this drug, contact Balkin Law Group today. You will be able to talk to an attorney who can help you navigate the complicated process of filing and pursuing a claim against a major company such as a pharmaceutical corporation or a major American retailer if you have suffered a personal injury as a result of your Zantac medication.
Why Was Zantac Recalled by CVS?
CVS made the decision to recall Zantac and all other over the counter ranitidine products in keeping with the trend of a variety of other distributors and manufacturers discontinuing sales and production as well. Walmart issued a statement, stating says that they were “taking this action after closely monitoring the recent Product Alert from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that ranitidine products may contain a low level of nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). Customers who purchased these products may return them to Walmart or Sam’s Club for a refund.”
CVS issued a similar statement on September 28, 2019, where they confirmed that they had “suspended the sale of all Zantac brand and CVS Health brand ranitidine products until further notice. This action is being taken out of an abundance of caution due to a recent Product Alert from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that ranitidine products may contain a low level of nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which is a probable human carcinogen.”
While encouraging that this possibly-dangerous substance has been removed from circulation, there is an ongoing debate about how serious the presence of NDMA in the medication actually is. In fact, there are some who claim that NDMA is actually more prevalent in food than in these medications. Deciding to recall and discontinue sales is definitely a great step in the direction of consumer safety, but the concerns may be overblown for most consumers.
Being issued a refund should be simple with CVS, but if you have been injured as a result of using Zantac or generic medications including ranitidine, you will benefit from partnering with an attorney to get the compensation that you rightfully deserve.
Contact Balkin Law Group Today
If you or a loved one has suffered from cancer after taking ranitidine, you may be eligible to either join existing class-action lawsuits against the producers or distributors or may be able to seek your own lawsuit depending on the specifics of your situation. The way to determine whether or not you have the right to file a lawsuit, how to proceed with your case, and how a lawyer can help, contact us as soon as possible to connect with an experienced attorney.
Working with a lawyer after the Zantac recall can be a significant advantage for you since pharmaceutical companies are notoriously difficult to seek compensation and damages from after they have caused you pain and injury.