Antacid

Zantac

Ranitidine and nizatidine, known respectively by their brand names Zantac and Axid, are commonly used drugs to treat heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and other stomach ulcer diseases. 

Earlier this year, an online pharmacy reported that they detected N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in ranitidine drugs on the U.S. market. After a preliminary investigation, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called for voluntary recalls of both ranitidine and nizatidine drugs that had unsafe levels of NDMA.

Introduced

1980s

Treats

Heartburn, GERD, stomach ulcer diseases

Side Effects

Exposure to NDMA

Read more about Zantac

Man taking a pill representing the Zantac cancer lawsuits.

Zantac Manufacturer Settles Ahead of Bellwether Trial

MedTruth Editors · October 24, 2023

A Zantac case against GlaxoSmithKline alleging the heartburn drug causes cancer has been settled before it went to trial.

Legal Developments
Zantac Makers Face New Lawsuit in Connecticut

Zantac Makers Face New Lawsuit in Connecticut

MedTruth Editors · September 13, 2023

Plaintiffs allege that they developed bladder, breast, prostate or other cancers because of long-term usage of Zantac or its generic, over-the-counter equivalent ranitidine.

Legal Developments
Person taking pill representing the Zantac cancer lawsuits.

First Zantac Lawsuit Trial Date Set, Again

MedTruth Editors · July 28, 2023

The plaintiffs allege that Zantac caused them to develop cancer of nine different types, including colorectal, breast, and bladder cancer.

Legal Developments
A man taking a pill representing the Zantac cancer lawsuits.

GSK Settles Ahead Of First Zantac Trial

MedTruth Editors · July 3, 2023

An individual who claimed to have developed bladder cancer due to the heartburn medication Zantac has reached a settlement with the manufacturer of the drug.

Legal Developments
Woman taking a pill representing the Zantac cases pending in courts.

Tens of Thousands of Zantac Cases Pending in State Courts

MedTruth Editors · June 14, 2023

Over 50,000 Zantac lawsuits have been dismissed, with over 100,000 still pending. The cases claim the drug’s active ingredient, ranitidine, causes cancer.

Legal Developments
Man holding pills in one hand and water in the other representing the Zantac class action dismissed in Canada.

Zantac Class Action Dismissed in Canada

MedTruth Editors · May 26, 2023

The court ruled that the plaintiff lacked the evidence necessary to convince the court that ranitidine, the active ingredient in Zantac, showed any causation to cancer.

Legal Developments
Man holding his stomach and bladder representing a California judge approving expert witness in Zantac trial over bladder cancer claims.

California Judge Approves Expert Witness in Zantac Trial

MedTruth Editors · April 12, 2023

The ruling will allow a lawsuit by a California resident, who claims he developed bladder cancer because of Zantac, to move forward in a state court.

Legal Developments
Image of a person taking prescription pills representing the Zantac trial delayed until July.

California Bellwether Zantac Trial Delayed Until July

MedTruth Editors · March 8, 2023

The judge overseeing this Zantac case is still deliberating over what expert testimony to admit.

Legal Developments
Woman holding pill from pill case representing the CA Zantac cancer trial awaiting expert witnesses.

CA Zantac Trial Awaits Expert Witness Admission

MedTruth Editors · March 3, 2023

The outcome of the case will be heavily influenced by which expert testimony Judge Grillo allows. 

Legal Developments
Woman holding a generic pill bottle representing Zantac makers pushing for MDL claims tossed.

Generic Zantac Makers Push for MDL Claims Tossed

MedTruth Editors · February 8, 2023

Generic makers of the heartburn drug Zantac are asking the judge to issue a final judgment that would toss out claims against them in the MDL.

Legal Developments
A young woman pours the pills out of a bottle representing the Zantac cancer MDL.

Zantac Cancer MDL Dismissed

MedTruth Editors · January 4, 2023

Zantac manufacturers have been cleared from liability in causing plaintiffs’ various types of cancers.

Legal Developments
An elderly woman holding her chest with heartburn representing the Zantac cancer class action lawsuit dismissed.

Zantac Cancer Class Action Dismissed

MedTruth Editors · November 30, 2022

The Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union alleged that Zantac contained a carcinogenic substance, and as a result, the heartburn drug manufacturers should be forced to pay monetary damages.

Legal Developments
A doctor showing a lung MRI representing new cancer study suggesting ranitidine is linked to four types of cancer.

Zantac Plaintiffs File Expedited Motion Over New Cancer Study

MedTruth Editors · October 18, 2022

Plaintiffs seek permission to file a report that includes data from a study that suggests ranitidine is associated with four different types of cancer.

Legal Developments
A woman with stomach cancer representing the Zantac MDL splitting plaintiffs based on cancer type.

Zantac MDL Splits Plaintiffs Based on Cancer Type

MedTruth Editors · October 14, 2022

Depending on what type of cancer plaintiffs have, they will either be tried at the state or federal level.

Legal Developments
A group of scientists in a lab representing Zantac expert testimony hearings.

Zantac Expert Testimony Hearings To Be Held

MedTruth Editors · September 27, 2022

These special hearings will determine which expert witnesses will be allowed to testify in the Zantac trials.

Legal Developments
Lawyers shaking hands at a table with paperwork representing the first Zantac trial ending in a settlement.

First Zantac Trial Ends in Settlement

MedTruth Editors · August 31, 2022

Joseph Bayer agreed to drop his lawsuit, which was scheduled to be held in an Illinois state court, after reaching a settlement of more than $500,000 with generic makers of Zantac.

Legal Developments
An elderly woman holding pack of Zantac pills representing the Zantac trial dates set in California.

Zantac Bellwether Dates Set in CA

MedTruth Editors · July 6, 2022

The first four Zantac trials in California have been set for 2023. Zantac users claim that they were unknowingly exposed to unsafe levels of NDMA.

Legal Developments
Image of a woman with a pill bottle representing the first Zantac lawsuits taking place in CA.

CA State Court Hears Zantac Lawsuits in October

MedTruth Editors · March 2, 2022

California will hold the first Zantac lawsuits in October of this year. Defendants are accused of failing to warn users about the drug's potential link to cancer.

Legal Developments
Image of a man looking at pill bottle representing the GSK, Valisure Zantac lawsuit.

Judge Blocks Discovery Request in Zantac Lawsuit

MedTruth Editors · February 15, 2022

GlaxoSmithKline will not be able to subpoena documents from plaintiffs in the Zantac multidistrict litigation.

Legal Developments
Image of a woman taking a pink pill representing the Zantac class action.

Branded Zantac Makers Can’t Escape Class-Action, Judge Rules

MedTruth Editors · October 21, 2021

Zantac manufacturers are facing lawsuits filed by individuals who claim the drug causes cancer.

Legal Developments
Image of a person holding Zantac pills representing the first zantac trials in the nation.

Dates Set for First Zantac Trials in the Nation

MedTruth Editors · September 29, 2021

The first Zantac cancer case has been scheduled for 2022.

Legal Developments
Image of a woman holding a pill bottle representing Zantac MDL judge reducing relevant defendants.

Zantac MDL Judge Reduces Relevant Defendants

MedTruth Editors · August 17, 2021

Judge Rosenberg determined that the lawsuits against the generic manufacturer are preempted since the law does not allow the generics to be labeled differently.

Legal Developments
Illustration of Zantac pills linked to cancer risk.

Drug Companies Investigated for Possible Failure to Disclose Zantac Cancer Risks

MedTruth Editors · September 1, 2020

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether drugmakers violated the False Claims Act by possibly failing to disclose the presence of NDMA in their Zantac and generic ranitidine heartburn products.

News
A stock image of a woman with heartburn, representing Zantac lawsuit consolidation in California.

California Attorneys Seek to Consolidate Zantac Lawsuits

James Parker · June 12, 2020

Attorneys representing 40 plaintiffs in California have recently filed a petition to consolidate product liability cases against the manufacturers of the heartburn medication Zantac, which may cause cancer.

Legal Developments
Man holding white pills representing Zantac multidistrict litigation.

Corporations Accused of Allowing Excess NDMA in Zantac MDL

James Parker · March 4, 2020

A Zantac multidistrict litigation hearing was held to decide how to proceed with over 100 lawsuits filed alleging that the makers of Zantac and its counterparts concealed fatal defects in the drug’s ingredients.

Legal Developments
Canadian flag representing the Zantac alternatives shortage in Canada.

Canada Faces a Zantac Alternatives Shortage

Benjamin Duong · February 11, 2020

Canada is facing shortages of heartburn medications after a Zantac recall led to an increase in demand for alternatives.

News
A photo of a file of legal complaint, representing the Boynton Beach Zantac lawsuit.

Boynton Beach Zantac Lawsuit Filed by Local Woman

James Parker · January 15, 2020

A Florida woman has filed a lawsuit alleging that Zantac manufacturers deliberately allowed an unsafe product to remain on the market.

Legal Developments
A photo of a truck storing Zantac in the sun, as exposure to heat during storage and transportation causes the heartburn medication to become contaminated with NDMA.

Exposure to Heat During Storage Causes Zantac Contamination

Benjamin Duong · January 14, 2020

Heat is the culprit causing carcinogenic NDMA contamination in Zantac, according to recent testing by Emery Pharma. A citizen petition requesting a total suspension of ranitidine products has been submitted to the FDA.

News
A photo of an Asian pharmacist removing medications from the pharmacy shelf, representing the recent news around the FDA Ranitidine recall.

More Companies Pull Heartburn Meds to Participate in FDA Ranitidine Recall

James Parker · January 13, 2020

Appco Pharma and Denton Pharma have voluntarily recalled generic versions of Zantac (ranitidine) to align with the FDA's efforts to remove drugs from circulation that may contain more than 96 nanograms of NDMA per million nanograms of ranitidine.

FDA Regulation
A photo of a woman's hand as she hovers over a pill container thinking about which alternative to Zantac she should select.

5 Alternatives to Zantac

Benjamin Duong · January 7, 2020

What are the alternative options to treat heartburn and related conditions? Here are 5 medications to take instead of Zantac.

Health Features