Everything You Need to Know About Zantac Drug Recall!

Zantac (ranitidine) was a popular over-the-counter and prescription drug used to treat heartburn and acid indigestion. In the 1980s and 1990s, it was the best-selling prescription ulcer drug in the world.

However, in September 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it had detected low levels of a potentially carcinogenic (cancer-causing) impurity called N-nitroso dimethylamine (NDMA) in ranitidine. The FDA recommended that people stop taking the drug and dispose of any they had at home.

This led to a global recall of many ranitidine products, including the brand-name drug Zantac. The FDA advised people to use alternative medications to treat their heartburn or acid indigestion.

In the aftermath of the recall, there was a shortage of alternative drugs, and some people turned to alternative remedies such as baking soda to treat their symptoms. In the following months, the FDA continued to test ranitidine products and found that most of them contained low levels of NDMA.

In April 2020, the FDA announced that it had completed its investigation and that all ranitidine products, including Zantac, would be removed from the market. The agency stated that the levels of NDMA in the drug posed a "probable human carcinogen," and that the risk of developing cancer from taking the drug was low but not completely absent.

The FDA has listed several Zantac alternatives, including:Nexium (esomeprazole)Pepcid (famotidine)Prevacid (lansoprazole)Prilosec (omeprazole)Tagamet (cimetidine)People who want to switch medications should speak with their medical providers before stopping any medications.