Illinois Zantac Injury Attorneys

Lawyers for Cancer Victims Who Have Taken Drugs Containing Ranitidine in Cook County

If you rely on prescription or over-the-counter medications to help you manage your health conditions, it can be devastating to learn that those medications may be causing even more serious conditions. Unfortunately, this may be the case when drug manufacturers conceal or misrepresent the possible harmful effects of a drug, and it makes its way into the hands and bodies of consumers.

At Newland & Newland, LLP, we serve clients who have been victims of defective drugs, helping them pursue compensation for their damages from the pharmaceutical companies who are responsible. Recently, information has come to light regarding the cancer-causing effects of the name-brand drug Zantac, and its generic equivalents. If you have developed cancer after taking this medication, we are ready to handle your case.

The Harmful Effects of Zantac and Ranitidine

Zantac has been in use since the early 1980s to treat heartburn, ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and other digestive conditions. The active ingredient is ranitidine, and many generic medications are sold under this name. Zantac and ranitidine medications have been sold both over-the-counter and via a doctor's prescription.

The makers of Zantac and ranitidine drugs warn of several common, mild side effects that may be possible after use, including nausea, headaches, and drowsiness. However, recent research has revealed more serious potential health effects for which consumers have not been provided clear warnings. Namely, the drug has been found to metabolize into a known carcinogen called NDMA after consumption. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns against consuming more than 96 nanograms of NDMA per day, but a single dosage of Zantac has been found to produce an amount that far exceeds this limit, in some cases more than 2 million nanograms. The amount tends to increase if the medication has been in storage for a long period of time or exposed to high temperatures.

As a result of this discovery, prescription and over-the-counter Zantac and generic ranitidine drugs have all been recalled in 2020. However, if you have used one of these medications at any point in the past, you may have been exposed to the harmful effects.

Pursuing Compensation For Damages From Zantac Use

If you have been diagnosed with cancer after using Zantac or ranitidine in the past, we can help you pursue compensation for your medical expenses and other damages. Some of the most common forms of cancer associated with Zantac and NDMA include:

• Bladder cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Liver cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Colon cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Breast cancer
• Lung cancer
• Prostate cancer

We will help you gather evidence, including medical records and testimony from your healthcare providers, that speaks to your condition, the effects it has had on your life, and the treatment you have received or will need in the future. We will also help you demonstrate your history of using Zantac or an equivalent drug by collecting prescription records, receipts, and evidence of your purchase history in the case of over-the-counter drugs. We will use this evidence to negotiate for a fair settlement with the manufacturer of the drug. Common defendants in these cases are the pharmaceutical companies Sanofi, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, and GSK. In the event negotiations are unsuccessful, we will not hesitate to take your case to court.

Contact a Rolling Meadows Defective Drug Injury Lawyer

Filing a lawsuit against a major pharmaceutical company may seem intimidating, but at Newland & Newland, LLP, we have the experience necessary to stand up for your interests and help you get the compensation you deserve. For a free consultation and review of your case, contact us today at 847-797-8000. We serve clients in Rolling Meadows, Arlington Heights, Itasca, Crystal Lake, Libertyville, Chicago, and throughout Cook County, Lake County, DuPage County, and Illinois.