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A Vancouver man has filed a Zantac cancer class action lawsuit alleging some ranitidine-containing medications sold in Canada contain a potentially cancer-causing impurity.
Ranitidine is the active ingredient in medications that treat stomach problems, ulcers, heartburn, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
In Canada, ranitidine is sold under the brand name Zantac, though generic versions of the drug are also available. It is sold as an over-the-counter drug or by prescription.
In September 2019, Health Canada announced that it was investigating a potential N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) impurity in some ranitidine drugs.
Shortly after this announcement, several drug manufacturers issued recalls of ranitidine medications due to the presence of NDMA. These drug manufacturers, which are named as defendants in the Zantac class action lawsuit, include Sandoz Canada Inc., Apotex Inc., Pro Doc Limitée, Sanis Health Inc., and Sivem Pharmaceuticals ULC.
Plaintiff Gary Dussiaume says he had a prescription for ranitidine and took the medication from 2018 until Sept. 26, 2019 when his family doctor reportedly switched his medication. He had previously taken prescription and over-the-counter ranitidine medication on and off for a number of years, the Zantac cancer class action lawsuit states.
The plaintiff notes that NDMA was not listed as a component of the ranitidine medication and cancer was not mentioned as a potential risk to consumers. Now Dussiaume says he’s experiencing prolonged and serious mental distress along with an increased risk of developing cancer due to potential long-term exposure to NDMA.
Dussiaume would not have ingested the ranitidine medication if he had known that he would also be consuming carcinogens, according to the Zantac cancer class action lawsuit.
He filed the Zantac class action lawsuit on behalf of himself and a proposed Class of Canadians who ingested, purchased, and/or were prescribed ranitidine that was contaminated with NDMA.
More than a dozen companies, including manufacturers, merchants and distributors of ranitidine-containing medications are named as defendants in the Zantac cancer class action lawsuit.
Dussiaume accuses the defendants of putting the ranitidine medications on the market even though they should have known that the drugs posed an unreasonable risk of harming consumers.
The defendants also failed to issue a timely recall of the affected drugs when they knew about the potential Zantac cancer risks, Dussiaume alleges. He suggests the companies failed to implement appropriate quality control testing to ensure the medication was safe for consumption.
The Zantac class action lawsuit asserts claims for negligence, failure to warn, unjust enrichment, waiver of tort, battery, and other violations of Canada law.
A similar Zantac cancer class action lawsuit was filed last month in Quebec.
Canada is not the only country that’s faced with NDMA-contaminated Zantac. Several Zantac recalls have been issued in the United States over concerns of NDMA contamination and consumers are filing Zantac cancer lawsuits against the drug manufacturers and distributors. Plaintiffs are alleging they developed stomach cancer or bladder cancer after ingesting Zantac.
Have you taken Zantac over the years? Let us know in the comments below.
Dussiaume is represented by Charney Lawyers PC and Rice Harbut Elliott LLP.
The Canadian Zantac Cancer Class Action Lawsuit is Gary Dussiaume v. Sandoz Canada Inc., et al., Case No. S1911469, in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, Canada.
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109 thoughts onCanadian Files Zantac Class Action Alleging Cancer Risk
I have taken zantac over the counter for my stomach problems, a year an a half ago i was told i had an ulcer was put on medication but later on wasn’t working so the doctor increased my dose, this year my stomach problem hasn’t gotten better, now ia waiting to see a specialist for furthur testing.
I took Zantac 150 for as long as it was on the market. Had a radical prostatectomy
How do I join the lawsuit? I posted earlier Debbie
I took Zantac after chemo for breast cancer caused me acid reflex. Almost 4 years to the day I was diagnosed with colon cancer which no one in my family has or has ever had. I just spent 4 years of hell dealing with colon cancer and if not taking Zantac could have avoided it I would have suffered with the acid reflex. Who do I talk to about sueing?
I took over the cancer Zantac for a few years for heartburn. Now at 47 I have had a radical prosectomy for prostate cancer.
Zantac always the Off The Shelf choice & prescriptions for both , Zantac & Ranitidine filled and taken ( most recently Ranitidine ) – 15 – 20 yr. ongoing Multi-issue Non-Resolved problem. Father same – Issues ( Only & Always Zantac ) – Passed from Esophageal Cancer – 10 + yrs ago , Me – severe Gastro-Intestinal, Throat,Mouth,Nasal etc… . Until VERY RECENTLY – ZANTAC daily.
Regular user of Zantac prescribed first about 25 years ago & was still buying it off the shelf until I found out it can cause cancers. I would like to be part of this class action lawsuit.
Regular use for 10 years.
For years I wasd prescribed zantac for Heartburn , how do I enter class action law suit
I have taken Zantac for years both prescribed and over the counter. I would like to be a part of this class action lawsuit.