Mason Waring: Hello, my name is Mason Waring. I am a partner at Chisholm,
Chisholm & Kilpatrick. I am joined here today with the founding partner, Robert Chisholm.
Robert Chisholm: Hi Mason. Mason: Thanks for joining us. Today we are
going to talk about Zantac. It is a widely used heartburn drug that is believed to cause cancer.
If you or a loved one took Zantac for a year or more and you have been diagnosed with cancer,
you should contact us immediately because you may qualify for compensation for your injuries.
Today we are going to start by explaining the problem with Zantac and the guidance from the FDA.
Then we are going to talk about why this is an important issue for veterans
and explain how we may be able to help you. Robert, could you start by explaining to
our viewers some of the backgrounds on Zantac and explain what the FDA believes is wrong with it.
Robert: Zantac has been on the market since the early 1980s.
It has been available in tablet form and in liquid form by prescription and over-the-counter as well.
The FDA determined that Zantac may be contaminated
with NDMA. NDMA is a probable carcinogen, meaning that it could cause cancer.
NDMA is thought to be harmless at low levels however, higher levels are believed
to lead to a higher risk of cancer in humans. It is further believed that the level of NDMA
in Zantac can increase over time even under normal storage conditions.
Zantac is believed to increase the likelihood of cancer in humans such as stomach, bladder,
prostate, kidney, pancreatic, colon, and others. On April 1st of this year 2020, the FDA requested
that companies stop selling Zantac. FDA also recommended that consumers stop taking Zantac
immediately and switch to another drug such as Pepcid, Tagamet, Nexium, or Prevacid, or Prilosec
if they wished to continue treating their heartburn with medication.
Mason: Robert, you have dedicated your career to advocating for the rights of veterans,
why is the Zantac NDMA contamination such an important issue for the veteran community?
Robert: As a general matter, Mason, many veterans suffer from GERD. Many veterans take medication
for that condition including Zantac so NDMA contamination is a serious issue for the veterans'
community. GERD is gastroesophageal reflux disease. A digestive disorder characterized by the
over occurrence of stomach acid flowing back up the esophagus from the stomach causing discomfort
and inflammation. GERD is caused by frequent episodes of acid reflux. So at the bottom of the
esophagus, there is a sphincter that allows food to pass down into the stomach and also prevent
it from traveling back up your esophagus. But when that valve, the sphincter, is weak stomach
acid can travel back up your esophagus. Common symptoms include heartburn, difficulty swallowing,
regurgitation, and chest pain. Mason, many veterans suffer from this condition.
Over-the-counter prescription Zantac is one of the drugs that has been used since the 1980s
to manage GERD heartburn. GERD is prevalent in the veterans population because underlying conditions
such as post-traumatic stress and obesity may make veterans more likely to suffer GERD heartburn.
In fact, we at CCK have helped many veterans obtain service-connected VA disability
compensation benefits for GERD heartburn. Mason: On this issue of the Zantac NDMA
contamination, what is CCK doing to help veterans and their loved ones?
Robert: We are working with experts in the fight
against the big companies responsible with Zantac related injuries. If you
or a loved one took Zantac for one year or more and have been diagnosed with cancer,
you should contact us immediately because you may qualify for compensation for your injuries.
While Zantac NDMA contamination impacts many veterans, it is not solely a veteran's issue.
Anyone who took Zantac for over a year with cancer may qualify for compensation. So I
want to repeat that, it does not apply just to veterans, it applies to anyone who took
Zantac for over a year and has cancer, they may qualify for compensation. So, please call us
if you want to discuss this further. Mason: Robert, thank you for that
important information. Thank you all for tuning in. Take care.
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