Liver problems after using Zantac

If you’ve struggled with heartburn or indigestion at any time in your life, you understand how uncomfortable such conditions can make a person feel. At some point, if your symptoms have been persistent or made you feel ill, you may have turned to your primary care physician for recommendations on how to alleviate the discomfort. You might be one of many people in North Carolina and across the country who have taken Zantac as treatment.

Zantac is a drug that reduces stomach acid. It is H2 blocker. The “H” stands for “histamine.” H2 blockers decrease the amount of acid in your stomach, which can bring you relief if you have an ulcer, heartburn or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). In 2020, Zantac was pulled from the market in the United States.

Why was there a recall on Zantac?

The FDA determined that there was N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in batches of Zantac made with ranitidine in the U.S. market. NDMA has been categorized as a probable carcinogen, meaning it likely causes cancer in humans. A problematic issue with NDMA is that its levels in a product increase when it is stored in high temperatures.

You might have a medicine cabinet in a bathroom in your home or a cupboard where you typically keep prescription and over-the-counter medications. Depending on temperature conditions in your household at any given time, it could be hot enough to raise the NDMA levels in a bottle of Zantac.

People who have used Zantac have reported liver problems

If you have a liver disease or cancer of the liver, you might experience a lot of abdominal pain. Other symptoms of liver cancer include bloating, jaundice (yellowish skin) and vomiting. There are various other types of illness or infection that might cause similar symptoms.

Such symptoms are definitely reason enough to seek medical attention. If your doctor diagnoses you with a liver disease or cancer of the liver, he or she may have recommendations as to what type of treatment might be best to help you alleviate pain and retain as high a quality of life as possible.

Who should foot the bill when a product is used correctly and causes injury?

When you purchase a product, you can reasonably expect it to work properly and to be safe to use. As long as you use a specific product according to its instructions, it should not be defective or cause you injury.

If you still have problems with stomach acid issues, you may want to research what types of alternatives to Zantac are available. Many people who have developed liver problems after taking Zantac have been involved in litigation where they have sought restitution for damages against the manufacturers.