Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
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.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
DR Power Equipment recall issued for 58K leaf blowers, vacuums due to laceration risk
May 9, 2024 | Product Recalls
109 thoughts onCanadian Files Zantac Class Action Alleging Cancer Risk
My husband was on Zantac for several years. He developed stomach cancer. He had surgery to remove his stomach. After his surgery he started to drink and became an alcoholic. He is now dead. We were divorced at the time of his death. I was told that he had committed suicide. He was extremely depressed after his surgery because he could not work or eat normally
I would like to know more about this class action suit
Took Ranitidine and Zantac for years. Now on Prevacid. Would like more information if possible.
Damn. I took both Zantac and Ranitidine for years. Now I take Pantoprazole Magnesium and it’s soooooooooooooooooo good.
Been on Nexium for years and was recently prescribed Ranitidine and was on it for a month and contacted to stop taking. Back on the Nexium and no issues for me at the moment but I am posting this for my brother who has medical issues and has been diagnosed with cancer. Our family has history of stomach ailments, ulcers etc. He has asked me to help him with some research regarding any lawsuits that are currently underway in regards to Ranitidine,Zantac etc.
My husband took Zantac for years. He had a hiatus hernia. He was diagnosed with esophagus cancer June 13, 2020 and died Aug 22.
Did any younger women take this for years and get breast cancer? I was checked to see if it was genetic and was not.
Yes, I used Zantac, Nexium and other similar products and was diagnosed with an aggressive form of stage 4 breast cancer, with no family history. This was in 2009 and received chemo and radiation. I am in remission but suffer from various ongoing ailments due to the treatments for my breast cancer. I guess I’m lucky to be alive seeing as it was stage 4 and a very aggressive form of cancer….still, if this contributed to it, I’m a wee bit angry!!!
Took Zantac for Gerd and heartburn. Now have had Multiple Myeloma for 8 years.
Diagnosed many years ago with Hiatal hernia and Gerd. Started taking Zantac years ago for many years then Pantaloc, Pepcid. Now on Dexilant.. I have had pre cancerous growths of cervix and uterus. Has to have total hysterectomy. Suffer bladder kidney issues.
I used Zantac starting in the 90’s and continued into 2000’s. I was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2001 and again in 2014. I’m now having liver issues.
I took Zantac, and Kirkland acid reflux for many years. For the last year I have been taking a prescription antacid. In 2006 I was diagnosed with leukemia. I am now thinking that Zantac was the reason why I contracted this cancer.