The FDA just pulled popular heartburn drug Zantac due to cancer risk
The popular OTC and prescription heartburn pill is linked to NDMA, an environmental contaminant. (Dean Hochman/)As if things in the world of healthcare weren’t chaotic enough, last week the FDA pulled the popular heartburn medicine ranitidine, brand name Zantac, from the shelves due to a possible cancer link. This follows months of investigation first prompted by Valisure, a small start-up pharmacy that looked into the chemistry of the popular medication.Here’s what people with heartburn should know about the recall.What is ranitidine?Ranitidine is an H2 (histamine-2) blocker, which decreases the amount of acid created by the stomach, according to the FDA. This makes it a good fix for health issues like heartburn, sour stomach, or acid indigestion.Some ranitidine drugs are available over the counter (Zantac can be found OTC), but others are prescribed for treatment and prevention of ulcers and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease.Does Zantac cause cancer?“It's important to note...