Zantac Lawsuit Illinois

zantac LAWSUIT CHICAGO

Over the last two years, there has been an FDA warning released about the popular heartburn drug Zantac potentially causing certain types of cancer such as bladder cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, and more. Since this warning and subsequent Zantac recall, thousands of Americans have filed Zantac cancer claims in order to receive compensation for their suffering. The Zantac class action lawsuit is still ongoing. If you have a lengthy history of taking the popular heartburn medication and you’ve recently been diagnosed with cancer, you may have grounds to file a Zantac lawsuit.

In order to schedule a free consultation and get started on your Zantac case, call the best Chicago Zantac cancer lawyers at 312-321-1111 today.

What is Zantac?

Zantac (ranitidine) is one of many histamine 2 (H2) blockers that treats heartburn. H2 blockers work by reducing stomach acid production. People may use Zantac OTC for one of the following health issues:

  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Peptic ulcer disease
  • Mild indigestion or acid reflux
  • Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

Why Did the FDA Recall Zantac?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Zantac recall in April 2020. The FDA recalled generic Zantac (AKA: generic ranitidine) in the U.S. due to the possibility of the drug having high levels of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) which is a Group 2A carcinogen according to the World Health Organization. In other words, NDMA is a “probable human carcinogen.” According to Cancer.org, this means that there is compelling evidence to suggest that humans could develop cancer from Zantac, but at the same time, the evidence is not conclusive. 

Zantac manufacturers didn’t purposefully put NDMA in the OTC or prescription heartburn medication. NDMA gradually develops in ranitidine medications when they’re stored at room temperature, therefore potentially increasing a person’s Zantac cancer risk every time they take the heartburn medication. Researchers believe that levels of NDMA are an unintentional byproduct of the manufacturing process of over-the-counter Zantac.

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The Dangers of NDMA

NDMA is a chemical compound that can be found in food, water, malt beverages, cigarette smoke, cosmetic products, etc. It’s not inherently harmful, especially in very small amounts. Researchers believe that most humans are consistently exposed to very small amounts of NDMA on a daily basis through one of the aforementioned substances. 

However, exposure to high levels of NDMA over long periods of time can potentially cause cancer in humans. Researchers believe this because laboratory animals have developed cancer from high levels of NDMA in various studies. 

You may be wondering: how much NDMA did researchers find in prescription Zantac? A 2021 JAMA study claims that they found 19 nanograms (ng) of NDMA in Zantac Cool Mint, which is a 150mg bottle of ranitidine hydrochloride. Researchers involved in this study stored this bottle of OTC Zantac in a 70 degree celsius room for two weeks. Then they tested the drug again and determined that it contained 70ng of NDMA. 

To put this in perspective, the FDA claims that exposure to 0.096 micrograms (equivalent to 96ng) on a daily basis for a lifetime is considered generally safe. If 70ng of NDMA developed in a bottle of generic Zantac in only two weeks, you can only imagine how much NDMA has developed in that bottle of Zantac that’s been sitting in your medicine cabinet for 5 years.

Does Zantac Cause Cancer?

There is no way to know for sure if ranitidine products contaminated with NDMA are actually carcinogenic to humans. This research is currently ongoing, especially with the victims involved in the Zantac multidistrict litigation. 

What we do know is that high levels of NDMA proved to be carcinogenic to lab animals. If this chemical compound can create cancer in other animals, we can only assume that it could possibly create cancer in humans too. 

Types of Cancer That Zantac Could Cause

Long-term Zantac users involved in the ongoing Zantac litigation are suffering from the following types of cancers:

  • Stomach cancer
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Bladder cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Breast cancer

If you developed cancer after long-term use of Zantac (ranitidine), you have grounds to join the Zantac lawsuits being filed across the U.S. Zantac lawyers at Curcio & Casciato want to help you receive a fair Zantac settlement so that you can pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, and so much more. Additionally, filing a Zantac lawsuit can help answer the ongoing research question: does NDMA contaminated drugs actually cause cancer in humans? 

People who have filed Zantac cases aren’t only suffering from various types of cancer. Many Zantac plaintiffs are also suffering from Crohn’s disease (a digestive tract disease), primary pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs), stomach ulcers, liver failure, and more. If you are suffering from either of these issues and you think they may be related to heartburn drug use, you could also file a Zantac claim.

Zantac Cancer Symptoms

If long-term Zantac patients receive a cancer diagnosis, they may experience the following symptoms:

  • Major changes in appetite
  • Major stomach bloating after eating small amounts of food
  • Changes in the color, size, or shape of stool
  • Blood in the stool
  • Daily abdominal cramping and pain
  • Blood in the urine
  • Dark urine
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Frequent, unexplained nausea
  • Vomiting that may or may not contain blood
  • Frequent, unexplained fever and chills
  • Daily muscle weakness or fatigue
  • Anemia
  • Severe indigestion and heartburn
  • Struggling to swallow food, water, or even saliva
  • Abnormal breast lumps or nipple discharge
  • Painful and swollen lymph nodes in the groin, armpits, or neck
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Jaundice
  • Night sweats
  • Back pain
  • Changes in heart rate

How Many Zantac Cancer Lawsuits Have Been Filed?

As of July 2022, Zantac litigation is ongoing with more than 2,000 lawsuits filed by Zantac victims. The Zantac MDL judge will allow several of these cases to go to trial by early 2023.  

If you were diagnosed with cancer after taking Zantac, you have grounds to join the national Zantac class action lawsuit. The Illinois statute of limitations allows victims of dangerous medications to file claims within two years of their cancer diagnosis. That’s why it’s so important to act fast. If you believe that your cancer diagnosis may be connected to taking Zantac for long periods of time, contact a Zantac lawyer at Curcio & Casciato. We will hire the best medical experts in Chicago to review your medical records and investigate your claim. Then, we will help you determine how best to move forward.

zantac cancer lawsuit chicago

Alternatives to Zantac

If you suffer from GERD or just frequent indigestion, there are plenty of alternatives to over-the-counter Zantac that may provide the same relief including:

  • Prilosec (omeprazole)
  • Nexium (esomeprazole)
  • Tagamet (cimetidine)
  • Pepcid (famotidine)

Natural Alternatives to Zantac

There are a variety of natural alternatives that could reduce daily discomfort from too much stomach acid. The best part is, these alternatives don’t raise your cancer risk. In addition to switching your medication from Zantac to something else, try:

  • Switching to a low-fat diet
  • Not sleeping after eating a large meal
  • Eating smaller portions of food throughout the day
  • Eating slower and chewing food more thoroughly
  • Getting in some daily movement, even if that’s just taking a walk around the block
  • Not eating right before exercising
  • Avoiding smoking because it can make the esophageal sphincter weaker
  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Avoiding lots of caffeine, alcohol, raw onions, and fatty foods because these foods and beverages can make acid reflux worse

Zantac Lawsuit Damages

A Zantac lawsuit attorney can potentially help you recover financial compensation for the following types of damages:

  • Past and future medical bills
  • Past and future rehabilitative bills
  • Caregiving bills
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Counseling costs for mental health issues caused by a health crisis
  • Loss of consortium

Our Chicago emotional distress attorneys can show you how to calculate pain and suffering damages and help you calculate lost wage claims.

Because the current Zantac cancer lawsuits filed by victims are still ongoing, there is no Zantac settlement yet. However, many lawyers believe that the Zantac lawsuit settlement could amount to billions of dollars due to the sheer number of people whose health is affected by the prescription drug. 

It’s difficult to determine how much compensation that victims could recover individually from Zantac and ranitidine lawsuits. Financial compensation commonly mirrors overall case worth. Only an experienced Zantac attorney can review your case, calculate your damages, and determine how much your case is potentially worth.

Call Curcio & Casciato Today To File a Zantac Lawsuit

If you have a history of taking Zantac to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and you’re now suffering from major health issues – such as cancer, Crohn’s Disease, or primary pulmonary hypertension – you have grounds to join the ongoing Zantac lawsuits. Filing a Zantac cancer lawsuit could not only help you pay for life saving medical care, but it could also help researchers solidify the link between NDMA in Zantac and cancer. The Chicago drug injury lawyers at Chicago’s top personal injury law firm has decades of combined experience in litigating all sorts of defective drug cases, including Zantac cases. Call the Zantac attorneys of Chicago at 312-321-1111 today.