Heartburn medication recalls continue due to carcinogen concerns

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Ross Sherman

Total recalls from three companies in less than a week

U.S. PIRG Education Fund

PHILADELPHIA — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed today that the drug manufacturers Dr. Reddy’s and Perrigo have initiated a voluntary recall of all of their generic versions of Zantac (ranitidine) — commonly used to treat heartburn — due to carcinogen contamination. This comes less than a week after Sanofi issued a similar voluntary recall of all over the counter Zantac, also to treat heartburn.

U.S. PIRG Education Fund Consumer Watchdog Adam Garber issued the following statement in response to the news:

“Americans expect this medication to relieve heartburn, not potentially cause cancer. We urge everyone taking this medication to check if they’re using Dr. Reddy’s, Perrigo or Sanofi products and immediately consult their doctor.

“In the last 18 months we’ve seen two major classes of drugs, heartburn and blood pressure medication, recalled because they contain a probable cancer-causing impurity. The FDA must get to the bottom of why these impurities continue to appear and take action by increasing inspections to ensure contaminated drugs never reach patients.”

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