Chronic Heartburn Is Dangerous – But Is A Popular Treatment Worse?

Just about everyone has experienced heartburn at some point in their lives. A colloquial term for acid reflux, heartburn occurs when stomach acid travels back up the esophagus. For some, this results in a burning or nauseated feeling, while others may experience silent reflux, leading to sore throats, hiccups, and other complaints. Reflux may be made worse by fatty or high acid diets, as well as by stress and eating too close to bedtime, and those with a chronic form of the condition, GERD – gastroesophageal reflux disease – may benefit from preventative treatment, one of the most popular of which is Zantac.

Zantac is the brand name of the generic medication ranitidine, produced by a number of different companies. It’s generally thought of as a harmless medication and is prescribed millions of times a year; it’s also available over the counter because it’s viewed as being so low risk. Recently, though, the drug was pulled from the market over concerns that it contains a dangerous level of a carcinogen. For patients with chronic reflux, though, what’s more dangerous – untreated reflux or a medication many have been taking for years?

What’s The Risk?

Ranitidine has been in use since 1981, so theoretically it should have a long track record to confirm its safety. Recent concerns, however, have nothing to do with the function of the drug itself. Rather, Zantac lawsuits raise concerns that the drug is contaminated with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a known carcinogen. From a legal standpoint, these cases are challenging, but as personal injury lawyer Jonathan Rosenfeld explains, “Personal injury law firms need to hold manufacturers accountable, even when they don’t intend to harm consumers. When we fail to do so, we give these companies carte blanche to take risks with consumers’ lives.”

The most common narrative around NDMA in Zantac is that it’s a contaminate, typically caused by improper or low-quality manufacturing; there’s also some debate about this. Other suits claim that the presence of NDMA is actually inherent to the drug’s molecular structure. If this is the case, then it’s not just a small number of patients at risk of cancer – those who took it during the relatively brief recall period – from the medication, but rather any patient who has taken it since its commercial launch in the 1980s.

Alternative Treatments

If Zantac itself is the problem, rather than the medication simply being contaminated, what should patients do? In the long-term, untreated GERD can cause serious complications, including an increased risk of esophageal cancer. In other words, not treating the condition can also be carcinogenic. Untreated reflux can also lead to general esophageal damage and tooth decay, gastritis, and Barrett’s esophagus, a condition that can change the nature of the esophageal tissue.

The good news for GERD patients is that there are many other treatments available beyond Zantac. Zantac is one of several different medications, including other H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors, and prokinetics. Some patients also benefit from lifestyle changes, while those with truly intractable GERD may also be candidates for surgical treatment, using either a magnetic sphincter or a fundoplication.

While all patients should consult with their doctors, it’s advisable to switch treatment modalities until further research into Zantac is completed and court cases concluded. There’s no reason to risk carcinogen exposure when the jury is still out on the issues.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.