What's the deal with Zantac?

Major drugstores like CVS and Walgreens are pulling ranitidine medication off their shelves after traces of a carcinogen was found some brands.

In early September, the Food and Drug Administration issued a statement that a cancer causing compound was found in samples of ranitidine, the generic version of Zantac. Recently, major drugstores like CVS and Walgreens have taken all generic versions of the heartburn drug off their shelves as a result of the announcement, despite the lack of a recall.

According to Harvard Health Publishing, the FDA was alerted that levels of a nitrosome impurity N- nitrosodimethylamine, also known as NDMA, present in ranitidine products at a Connecticut-based online pharmacy. NDMA is considered carcinogenic based on previous animal studies, but Harvard medicine said NDMA present in ranitidine products does not place any immediate risk on a user. Only prolonged exposure to NDMA has been proven to pose a threat, Harvard Medical said. NDMA can also be found in water and some foods like meat and vegetables but the amount found in these are not harmful to consumers

Ranitidine is an over the counter drug commonly known as Zantac. It helps to relieve and prevent heart burn, and in cases where it is prescribed it is used to prevent stomach and intestine ulcers. The FDA has asked manufacturers of this product to conduct their own laboratory testing and to send samples for the FDA to test in their laboratories.

Although not all generic brands of Zantac have been recalled, precautions are being taken by some companies since they say the risk is too large.

So what does this mean for users?

While some brands of ranitidine have been recommended for voluntary recall, like those made by Apotex Corp offered at Walgreens, Walmart and Rite-Aid, not all have. The FDA said in their latest statement that they do not recommend that patients stop using all brands of this drug, rather just the brands that have been placed under the recall. Major drugstore CVS are offering refunds for any customer who purchased ranitidine, as their store-brand and the Zantac brand they carry have not been recalled.

There are other options available for regular users of ranitidine who are affected by this recall, according to Healthline. They are as follows:

· Tagamet (a type of cimetidine)

· Pepcid (a type of famotidine)