Zantac® (ranitidine) is a popular heartburn drug that was introduced to the market in the 1980s and has since been taken by millions of Americans every year in prescription and over-the-counter versions.
A longtime household drug name, most Zantac® users experienced only mild side effects from taking the drug. However, recent studies have discovered unsafe levels of a known cancer-causing substance called N-nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, in ranitidine, which is the main ingredient in Zantac®.
As a result, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered in April of 2020 that all ranitidine medications, including Zantac®, be removed from the market immediately in order to protect the public.
Zantac® will no longer be available for prescription or over-the-counter use in the U.S. and the FDA has stated that anyone currently taking a ranitidine medication should stop, consult their doctor, and safely dispose of any unused products they have at home.