In addition to the national recall of generic ranitidine, CVS is halting all sales of both name-brand Zantac and its generic versions.
Apotex Corporation is voluntarily recalling over-the-counter ranitidine heartburn medications due to a possible link to a cancer-causing carcinogen, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). Health officials discovered traces of the NDMA during routine lab testing last month and have requested that the medication be pulled from all retail shelves.
Apotex, who distributes to Rite Aid, Walmart, and Walgreens, will no longer be distributing the heartburn preventative nationally.
The trace amounts of the carcinogen found in the ranitidine are no more than what you would find in common foods and is only harmful in large doses. Rite Aid, Walmart, and Walgreens will not be selling the products while the medications continue to be tested, while CVS has announced they will stop selling Zantac and their generic ranitidine version altogether.
Even so, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is not recommending that consumers stop taking all ranitidine medications, as not all of them are under the voluntary recall. For instance, Zantac itself has not been recalled.
What Is Being Recalled
The products details are listed in the following order: Name, milligrams, number of pills, and NDC Number.
- Ranitidine tablets, USP 150mg- acid reducer (Rite Aid), 150 mg, 50's Bottle, 11822-6052-1
- Ranitidine tablets, USP 150mg- acid reducer (Rite Aid), 150 mg, 65's Bottle, 11822-6052-2
- Ranitidine tablets, USP 150mg- acid reducer (Rite Aid), 150 mg, 95's Bottle, 11822-4727-3
- Ranitidine tablets, USP 150mg- acid reducer (Walmart), 150 mg, 65's Bottle, 9035-117-06
- Ranitidine tablets, USP 150mg- acid reducer (Walmart), 150 mg, 24's Bottle, 49035-100-00
- Wal-Zan® 150 RANITIDINE TABLETS, USP 150 mg / ACID REDUCER (WALGREENS), 150 mg, 0363-1030-07
- Ranitidine tablets, USP 150 mg - acid reducer (Rite Aid), 10 mg, 24's Bottle, 11822-6051-8
- Ranitidine tablets, USP 150mg- acid reducer (Walmart), 150 mg, 130's Bottle, 49035-100-07
- Wal-Zan® 150 RANITIDINE TABLETS, USP 150 mg / ACID REDUCER (WALGREENS), 75mg, 30's Bottle, 0363-1029-03
- Cool mint Ranitidine tablets, USP 150 mg - acid reducer (Rite Aid), 150mg, 24's, 11822-6107-4
- Wal-Zan® 150 RANITIDINE TABLETS, USP 150 mg / ACID REDUCER (WALGREENS), 150 mg, 65's Bottle, 0363-1030-06
- Wal-Zan® 150 RANITIDINE TABLETS, USP 150 mg / ACID REDUCER (WALGREENS), 150mg, 95's Bottle, 0363-1030-09
What to Do
You may return the medication to your local retailer for a full refund or quarantine the pills immediately. There have not been any known or reported illnesses to date.
If you ordered your medication directly from Apotex, you can contact Inmar Rx Solutions at 800-967-5952 or (9 a.m.–5 p.m., EST, Monday–Friday) to return the products.
Anyone with questions or concerns can contact the FDA by phone (1-800-706-5575) Monday–Friday. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. or email [email protected].
If you experience any adverse reactions to the medication, fill out this report online, via mail by calling the FDA at 1- 800-332-1088 to request and reporting form and return the envelope to the address on the pre-addressed form or by fax at 1-800-FDA-0178.
Do you take these heartburn pills over-the-counter or by prescription? Do you plan to switch your heartburn medication? Tell us in the comments!
