For residents of Ohio and elsewhere, something as mundane as taking antacids should be harmless. Unfortunately, that is not necessarily the case for the popular product Zantac. Recently, there has been a link made between it and cancer, leading to a Zantac recall.
What does the research show about Zantac?
Researchers conducted a study about Zantac and found that even taking a normal dose of the antacid could potentially cause cancer. It was found that the product contained high levels of NDMA, a cancer-causing substance.
The researchers then determined that the levels of NDMA in people’s urine were increased 400 times after taking the antacid. After the 2016 research study was concluded, the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, later requested a Zantac recall in the first quarter of 2020.
Amid these findings and the problems with Zantac, some people wonder if another substance that was once used in antacids, ranitidine, may make a return. However, experts don’t believe it will have any effect. This could be due to researchers finding that ranitidine could have as much as 106 nanograms of NDMA if it’s stored in temperatures as high as 158 degrees, which could easily happen in a parked, locked car on a hot summer day.
Why was there a recall of the product?
The Zantac recall came about after various research studies discovered extremely high levels of NDMA in the product. The FDA levels that were deemed acceptable on a daily basis were a mere 96 nanograms. However, researchers determined that levels of the substances that were found in Zantac measured as high as 47,600 nanograms. This is a dangerously high level of a substance that is allegedly carcinogenic.
With these findings, the FDA had to pull Zantac from the market. For the sake of their health, consumers will have to find different means to ease their upset stomachs or heartburn.
