HEARTBURN: FDA finds low levels of cancer-linked impurity in common heartburn drugs
October 03, 2019 • 1 min read
-- As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure – sound advice when the cure is a known killer.
Sadly, when it comes to heartburn, many of us have passed the point of prevention. All that beer and pizza – prevention, pah! Where’s the goddamn Zantac?
But now might be a good time to review the brand of heartburn medication in your cabinet. The US Food and Drug Administration has learned that some ranitidine medicines – acid-reducing and heartburn medicines, including those known by the brand name Zantac – contain low levels of an impurity that could cause cancer.
The problem ingredient is a nitrosamine impurity called N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which is classified as a probable human carcinogen (a substance that could cause cancer) based on results from laboratory tests.
The FDA says it is working with international regulators and industry partners to determine the source of this impurity in ranitidine, but is not calling for individuals to stop taking ranitidine “at this time”.
Seek a second opinion on the last piece of that advice.