Mass Torts and Class Action Lawsuits

 Zantac Lawsuit Lawyers - Cancer

For many years, we could all find Zantac in pharmacies and other locations to treat heartburn and other gastrointestinal problems. However, as well as some common side effects, everything went sour for Zantac when reports emerged of people developing cancer. Eventually, the product was recalled by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and investigations are now ongoing to learn more about the drug and the extent to which it affects the human body.

This being said, the important detail is that there is now an active Zantac class action lawsuit as well as all sorts of other cases against the manufacturers. If you believe that the Zantac product has caused similar problems in your life, we encourage you to contact The Injury Firm for help. As personal injury lawyers and Zantac lawsuit lawyers, we know exactly how the process works and how to give you the best chance of compensation.

Rather than a single manufacturer, Zantac has several different producers including the following:

• Sanofi
• Boehringer
• GSK
• Chattem
• Pfizer

The ongoing claims are that these manufacturers knew about these possible side effects and didn’t do enough to either warn the public or remove the products from pharmacies and other locations around the country. In this guide, you’re going to learn everything you need to know about Zantac, the side effects, and whether you have a case against one of these major manufacturers. Just because we’re dealing with large companies, this doesn’t mean you don’t deserve compensation.

What’s Zantac?

Starting at the very beginning, Zantac also goes by the name of ‘ranitidine’ and is considered a histamine-2 blocker. Ultimately, the goal of such products is to reduce heartburn by slowing or stopping the production of stomach acid.

Sometimes, stomach acid can rise through the esophagus, and this causes heartburn for the sufferer. By taking Zantac, the aim was to reduce stomach acid production and ease the burning sensation that comes with such issues. Those who experience this problem regularly are said to suffer from GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

Since Zantac was effective at dealing with this problem, it was recommended by doctors and given to patients over the counter. As well as heartburn, too much stomach acid can also cause Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and stomach ulcers. Therefore, Zantac seemed like the perfect solution to all these problems.

However, all forms of ranitidine were later recalled by the FDA after products were found to contain NDMA - something that can increase cancer risks in some patients.

Side Effects of Zantac

Every medication has some possible side effects, and Zantac had a list too. For example, this included constipation, diarrhea, rash, vomiting, nausea, peaches, drowsiness, and stomach pain. After this, the medication also had some serious side effects listed. This included:

• Chills/fever
• Chest pain
• Jaundice
• Dark urine
• Mucus cough
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of appetite (and stomach pain)
• Skin/hair problems
• Irregular heartbeat
• Excessive bleeding or bruising

Manufacturers told patients to stop taking Zantac and seek medical attention if any of these issues developed. However, there was another potentially serious side effect that wasn’t listed, and it was first spotted by Valisure, a pharmaceutical company based online.

Presence of NDMA

Back in September 2019, Valisure ran tests on Zantac and noticed that some batches contained NDMA. In case you haven’t heard of this substance, it’s short for ’N-nitrosodimethylamine’ and is often used in lab conditions to cause tumors in animals. Not only is it a known danger to animals in labs, but it’s also known as a probable carcinogen (it can cause cancer in humans).

To highlight the seriousness of NDMA being found in Zantac, it was once used by manufacturers of rocket fuel. However, tests then showed that the chemical was found in high levels not only in the air but also in the soil and water all around the manufacturing plants. Therefore, even rocket fuel manufacturers don’t use the chemical any longer.

Dangers of NDMA

Why is NDMA so dangerous? Research over the years has shown that NDMA may lead to an increased risk of cancer for patients. Unfortunately, it has the potential to cause ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, melanoma, prostate cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, kidney cancer, and colon cancer.

As you can see, it’s not even that the chemical can cause one type of cancer. Instead, it can cause lots of different types, and this is why the FDA immediately recalled all Zantac products and told patients to stop using them.

If you have experienced any of these cancer types after taking Zantac, we highly recommend getting in touch with The Injury Firm today. As Zantac lawsuit lawyers, we can file an antacid cancer lawsuit and ensure that you get the compensation that you not only need but also deserve.

The Concerns of the FDA

Before we talk about whether you have a case and the legal side of things, we first want to note the concerns of the FDA. As soon as Valisure identified NDMA in some Zantac products, the FDA immediately launched its own investigation. It extensively tested ranitidine products (including Zantac) to check the safety of the product for all consumers. Valisure highlighted NDMA in such products in September 2019, and the FDA issued the recall as soon as April 2020. It said that ALL ranitidine products should be removed from American shelves and that Zantac should no longer be available to patients.

If we’re to understand the roots of this case, we need to look at exactly why the FDA decided to recall all products. Primarily, the FDA investigation found that not all products containing NDMA present a cancer risk to patients. Yet, the levels found in Zantac were dangerously high and did present this risk. The FDA believed that, through taking Zantac, some patients could consume ‘unacceptable levels’ of NDMA.

Not only were products dangerous in the first place, but the FDA said that storage above natural room temperature could increase the prevalence of the chemical in Zantac. What’s more, it becomes even more dangerous the longer it remains in the medicine cupboard. Shockingly, some researchers found an increase in NDMA levels even when the drug was stored as suggested.

The FDA couldn’t guarantee the health and safety of those taking Zantac and other ranitidine products and therefore were forced into a major recall. It said that no responsible body should sell the products and those with Zantac in their homes should stop taking the medication and dispose of them as soon as possible.

Since the product recall, the concerns of the FDA have grown. Why? Because subsequent information has come to light. According to some sources, studies dating back to the 1980s draw the link between Zantac and NDMA. There’s also evidence to suggest that Boehringer Ingelheim and Sanofi both knew about the dangers of Zantac and concealed the fact from the industry, the FDA, and innocent customers.

While consumers were putting potentially harmful chemicals into their bodies, these companies were making endless amounts of money. Zantac later became the first drug to ever surpass the $1 billion revenue mark.

Existing Lawsuits Against Zantac Manufacturers

As you can probably expect, many different lawsuits now exist against the manufacturers of this drug including a Zantac class-action lawsuit. A West Palm Beach federal judge has also been assigned a mass tort with 141 claims against Zantac.

Claims against Zantac include several different grievances including the fact that manufacturers could (and should) have tested the product more extensively before launching and make it available to the public. Without the right testing, claimants say that the companies put millions of people at risk of developing cancer.

Every month, more potential victims come forward, and we’re here to help as personal injury lawyers and Zantac lawsuit lawyers. If you have experienced cancer because of the NDMA contained within Zantac, feel free to dial our number today for a free consultation. We’ll talk about your individual case and whether you can claim compensation for damages.

With an antacid cancer lawsuit, you can recover damages whether this is medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, or another form. While some victims join a Zantac class action lawsuit or mass tort, others file alone. We’ll discuss your options and build a case strong enough to hold the guilty party responsible, regardless of the route.

Can You Sue Zantac?

In short, yes. If you believe that Zantac has caused cancer, you can file a claim against the company whether part of a mass tort or individually. Compensation and personal injury claims are designed to recover the cost of damages caused by another party. In this example, the other party is the manufacturer of Zantac (ranitidine). Their negligence and lack of testing may have caused your cancer, and personal injury lawyers will help to prove this fact.

Of course, claiming and obtaining compensation are two very different matters. To win a case against a major manufacturer, your Zantac lawsuit lawyers will need to show that you experienced damages as a direct result of its product. For example, we’ll show that you took the drug as directed on the label and consequently suffered from a health condition.

All companies supplying medical products to consumers have a responsibility to ensure that they meet certain safety regulations and requirements. Many companies breached these standards with regards to Zantac, so most of the work for personal injury lawyers is to prove a link between your health condition and the drug.

Can you sue Zantac? Yes, but you need to have suffered damages. Taking Zantac isn’t enough for compensation - you need to have developed cancer or another health complication to hold the company accountable. If you haven’t suffered damages, you cannot claim against a Zantac manufacturer.

Don’t worry, this is something that you’ll discuss with the brilliant The Injury Firm team. Therefore, we wouldn’t discourage anybody from contacting us. If you have suffered any damages, arrange a free case evaluation today. What have you got to lose?

Types of Zantac Damages and Compensation

When reading this, you might wonder what sort of damages apply in this case. What compensation can you recover? Firstly, the most obvious example is medical bills. After developing cancer, you’re likely to need blood tests, scans, and other procedures just for the diagnosis alone. If you’re diagnosed with cancer, you’ll then need:

• Possible surgery
• Radiation
• Chemotherapy
• Aftercare

Sadly, cancer requires intense treatment, and this could mean frequent appointments with doctors and specialists. A potential case with Zantac lawsuit lawyers will aim to compensate all medical bills associated with your diagnosis. Of course, you can only recover damages related to your cancer as opposed to pre-existing conditions.

Additionally, you can claim compensation for wages that you’ve missed by having to take time away from work. If you cannot work during treatment, the company should compensate and replace this income. Let’s not forget, you’re not missing work through any fault of your own.

Another economic damage that many victims seek is financial protection. After a diagnosis like cancer, it threatens the financial security of a family. At the same time, you might have to put your professional and personal journey on pause, and this is something else worth adding to a claim.

As well as economic damages, your legal team will also seek non-economic damages. A cancer diagnosis is never easy, and only those who have experienced one can truly understand the impact it has. Hearing the ‘C’ word from doctors doesn’t just affect the individual, it has implications for friends, family members, colleagues, and many others. One cancer diagnosis can shake the worlds of dozens of people.

With this in mind, your antacid cancer lawsuit will contain non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life/activities, and more.

Wrongful Death Cases

Unfortunately, the seriousness of cancer means that some people affected by the Zantac situation have now passed away. If this is the case, you can hold the guilty parties responsible with a wrongful death claim. Although the case is slightly different from a personal injury claim, the aim is the same (to seek compensation for damages caused by their actions).

Damages in a wrongful death claim include loss of income, loss of consortium and companionship, funeral/burial costs, loss of inheritance, and emotional trauma for family members.

During this sensitive time, we urge you to contact personal injury lawyers to help with your case. Even with the saddening events of Zantac cases, manufacturers have insurance companies to reduce their insurance burden on individuals. With the right Zantac lawsuit lawyers, you’ll have the guidance you need from start to finish.

Why Contact The Injury Firm?

When searching online, you might find that many victims go through the process alone. The less advertised fact is that most people who fail to hire an antacid cancer lawsuit lawyer struggle to get a compensation package that matches their damages. Only when you work with experienced and trained professionals can you expect a genuine shot at compensation.

As we’ve already seen, one of the biggest problems is the fact that insurance companies hire adjusters and get them to almost pester victims. In the end, you’re receiving constant phone calls to arrange a phone interview. Unfortunately, one misspoken sentence can leave you with no chance to recover the compensation you deserve.

You need personal injury lawyers to assess your case, consider the ongoing Zantac class-action lawsuit, and put you on the right route. The Injury Firm deals with insurance companies and adjusters, protects your legal rights, negotiates settlements, gathers evidence, speaks with expert testimonies, and collates all important documentation.

Some other reasons to choose The Injury Firm is that we get results, you won’t pay anything until the resolution of the case, and it all starts with a free case evaluation. Aside from all the legal jargon, however, we’re a compassionate team that knows how to deal with your situation delicately. We offer support when you need it most, and we’re always at the end of the phone whenever you have questions or concerns (not all personal injury lawyers can say this!).

We’ll prove that the medication contained a defect, that this defect caused an illness or injury, and that the illness led to certain damages. From here, we’ll push for compensation to cover all current and future medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress, and more.

Pick up the phone today!