Update, April 1, 2020: Today theU.S.
If youre taking Zantac for heartburn, the FDA recommends you stop and consider using other products.
On September 13, theU.S.
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When SELF reached out to Sanofi for comment, a spokesperson responded with text from this statement.
This [recall] includes Zantac 150, Zantac 150 Cool Mint, and Zantac 75, thestatementsays.
On October 28, theFDAannounced that three other pharmaceutical companies were voluntarily recalling various ranitidine-containing products as well.
Keep reading to learn more.
How does ranitidine work?
Ranitidine is an H2 blocker, theU.S.
National Library of Medicineexplains.
H2 blockers work to reduce heartburn symptoms by binding to proteins in the stomach called histamine H2 receptors.
All of that is a normal and necessary part of the digestive process.
This can causeacid reflux, meaning that gastric acid can drop your esophagus and lead to heartburn.
Whats the deal with NDMA?
Clearly, it can also be found in some drugs, like ranitidine.
Ranitidine isnt the only drug with NDMA issues.
But the studies in humans linking NDMA to cancer have found a relatively weak link so far.
Sounds shocking, but thats still an OR of 1.93, which, again, is relatively low.
What if youre currently taking Zantac?
The FDA isnt currently recommending that people using ranitidine stop taking it.
FDA is not recommending individuals stop taking all ranitidine medicines at this time,the statementsays.
Consumers taking OTC ranitidine could consider using other OTC products approved for their condition.
Multiple drugs are approved for the same or similar uses as ranitidine.
Stomach acid levels go right back to baseline…so theyre not very good medicines to be on long-term.
(Theyre better for short-term situations like after Thanksgiving dinner, Dr. Gabbard says.)
These drugs block the enzyme system responsible for secreting gastric acid.
How worried do you really need to be about ranitidine and cancer?
The same goes if you decide to switch treatment and your heartburn persists or worsens.
