Popular heartburn medicines are recalled over cancer concerns – FOX31 Denver
Nearly two weeks after a probable carcinogen was discovered at low levels in heartburn medications, the unused medications are recalled.
Pharmaceutical manufacturer Apotex said on Thursday it voluntarily remembers 75 mg and 1[ads1]50 mg of ranitidine tablets sold on Walgreens, Walmart and Rite Aid over the possible presence of carcinogenic NDMA.
The FDA is testing Zantac and its generic versions, but has so far not asked drug makers for a recall. And Sanofi, which manufactures the brand name Zantac, is yet to make any effort.
"The FDA reported that levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in ranitidine in preliminary tests hardly exceed amounts found in regular foods," said a spokesman for Sanofi. "We work closely with the FDA and conduct our own robust investigations to ensure that we continue to meet the highest quality safety and quality standards."
NDMA and two other carcinogens have also led to extensive recalls of blood pressure and heart medications since last year. Production errors were blamed for that, but in this case, experts say that enzymes in a person's body are likely to react with the ranitidine molecule and actually produce NDMA. See the FDA's updates here. (Read more about drug recall.)
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