While the risk of cancer has been the primary focus of issues with Zantac, it is worth noting that Zantac could also affect blood pressure. High doses of the drug could cause dangerous blood pressure levels, especially low blood pressure levels. This could eventually result in other serious health consequences. If you have experienced low blood pressure due to the use of Zantac, you should discuss your options with your doctor as soon as possible.
The heartburn drug Zantac faced a recall by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019 due to a number of potential health risks. Chief among those risks involved the potentially carcinogenic substances within the drug that were found to be dangerous when used over the long term or when subject to high heat.
Low Blood Pressure and Zantac
Like any over-the-counter medication, Zantac can come with a host of side effects. These side effects are present even in cases where you have taken the drug exactly as directed. There are several common side effects of ranitidine, the main ingredient in Zantac. These include diarrhea, headache, constipation, or stomach pain, according to Healthline. While unpleasant, these side effects are unlikely to result in severe health conditions except for those who are allergic to Zantac and similar drugs.
There are other significant health consequences that could occur in cases where a person does not take the drug as intended. Specifically, you could experience low blood pressure and difficulty walking should you take more than the recommended dosage, according to Healthline. Zantac overdoses are rare, but the impact they can have on blood pressure is significant. Keep in mind that these effects are only likely in cases of significant overdoses. This often involves individuals taking many times the recommended dosage.
There are a variety of risks that come with low blood pressure. Also known as hypotension, low blood pressure could leave you feeling faint or dizzy. In some cases, you could even lose consciousness. This represents a serious risk of injury should you fall after fainting. Low blood pressure could also result in blurry or fading vision.
In extreme cases, low blood pressure could prevent your brain or heart from obtaining the oxygen it needs. This could result in difficulty carrying out the basic functions needed to keep your body working as intended, according to Mayo Clinic.
Zantac Recall History
Zantac, and its generic form known as ranitidine, has faced intense scrutiny since September of 2019. At that time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement regarding potential health risks involving Zantac. It should be noted that these risks were not related to the effect the drug could have on blood pressure. Instead, the warning was related to the discovery of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) contained in the drug.
NDMA is a likely human carcinogen, yet laboratory tests found relatively small levels of NDMA within Zantac. On their own, these levels might not have raised alarms regarding Zantac and the potential for causing cancer. While the FDA did not recall the drug at the time, it warned that further research might establish a link between Zantac use and serious health risks.
In April of 2020, the FDA took the additional step to recall Zantac from the United States market. In the announcement, the FDA noted that the levels found in Zantac were not inherently dangerous. However, the notice went on to say that research suggests the NDMA found in Zantac could increase with time and under higher storage temperatures. Given that the FDA could not guarantee the drug would remain safe to use under all storage conditions, it issued a recall.
If you believe you are facing health consequences based on your history of Zantac use, it is vital that you speak with your doctor right away. Likewise, an attorney could help you protect your legal rights following a medical injury.
Discuss Your Zantac Injury Claim with an Attorney
While Zantac can affect blood pressure, this typically only occurs through taking far more than the recommended amount of the medication. However, low blood pressure is only one of the possible health consequences that can come with using Zantac.
If you are living with compromised health due to the dangerous effects of Zantac, you deserve to pursue a legal claim against the manufacturer. These cases are frequently complex, but success could result in the compensation you deserve. Let the team at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers assist you with your claim. When you work with Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers, you will work directly with one of the partners of the firm–not a case manager.
Call a team member at (855) 529-0269 for your free consultation.
