The FDA has officially recalled Zantac as well as other ranitidine drugs
We’ve posted more than a handful of stories over the last year or so about the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s concerns over the use of ranitidine drugs, but this one is different. After numerous close calls, the FDA has finally recalled Zantac, the prescription and over-the-counter medication used to prevent and treat heartburn.
An investigation by the FDA that began in the summer of 2019 into the prevalence of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in Zantac has concluded that “levels of a contaminant (NDMA) in the heartburn medications increase over time and when stored at higher-than-normal temperatures…” As CNN goes on to explain, the FDA believes ranitidine medications “pose a risk to public health.” It’s likely for this very reason that in Spetember of 2019, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart made the decision to no longer carry Zantac or other ranitidine medications.
The FDA did point out that they actually “didn't observe unacceptable levels of NDMA in many of the samples.” Unfortunately, they don’t know how long the products have been on store or consumer shelves, and therefore made the decision to recall Zantac altogether. With the current laws regarding travel throughout the United States and Canada due to COVID-19, it’s possible you may find it difficult to return your Zantac purchase. Please follow the links below for guidance on how to dispose of the recalled drugs, as well as the full story from CNN Health.
To read CNN Health’s full reporting on this story, click here: https://cnn.it/39O8dPV
For the FDA’s guidance on disposing of recalled drugs, click here: https://bit.ly/34gaJwS