Amid Zantac drug recall, FDA identifies “safe” heartburn drug alternatives
The popular heartburn medication Zantac has been recalled by the company and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) concerns. The recall began in the United States, and has reached Canada, Asia, and Europe. Initially, even the generic alternatives to Zantac were thought to be tainted, but it appears there may be some safe alternatives.
According to the FDA, tests of the following alternative medications revealed “no NDMA”: Pepcid (famotidine), Tagamet (cimetidine), Nexium (esomeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole), and Prilosec (omeprazole). The news isn’t all good though, as there are questions about some of the “safe” alternatives.
As the Daily Mail explains, Zantac contains H2 blockers, and the “safe” alternatives contain Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs). These PPIs are believed to “disrupt the way the body absorbs certain nutrients.” And they’ve been linked to everything from heart and kidney disease to stomach cancer. So legitimate questions remain as to whether heartburn medications containing H2 blockers or PPIs should be considered safe. The decision as to what medication is the safer option is ultimately up to the patient and their doctor. Like with most medications, before deciding what to do, you should consult your physician.
To read the article in the Daily Mail, click here: https://dailym.ai/32TgMWG
For the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s full release on the potentially safe alternatives, follow this link: https://bit.ly/31M0QnW