Zantac Lawsuit: Do You Qualify?

Zantac is a medication that has proven useful at treating patients suffering from heartburn, stomach pain, and difficulty swallowing their food. The drug works by decreasing the amount of acid produced in the stomach and was widely available to consumers by prescription and over the counter. The availability of Zantac became restricted after the Food and Drug Administration discovered that the use of Zantac is a risk factor for cancer and other health conditions.

Consumers who developed a serious health condition due to using Zantac may be eligible to join a class-action lawsuit. The lawsuit seeks to hold the drug’s manufacturer responsible for the damage experienced by custom.

Consumers allowed to join the class action will need to provide proof of their Zantac use. Plaintiff will also need to provide documentation for a cancer diagnosis. The members of a class action enjoy several benefits that would not be available to them if they filed a lawsuit alone. The benefits of a class action include the lower costs for legal fees. Plaintiffs also enjoy the additional strength available to them when lawyers for the claimants work together to gain a legal victory against a common foe.

Who is Eligible to File a Zantac Lawsuit

A class-action lawsuit connects a group of plaintiffs receiving injuries from a common culprit. The group then enjoys collective representation through a single member of the group. Both the individual and class action lawsuits filed against Zantac seek to hold drugmakers responsible for their injuries and receive compensation.

Potential plaintiffs will need to consider their options before deciding which type of legal action is best for them. But three elements must be present to establish a relevant claim against Zantac regardless of the lawsuit format opted for by the plaintiff.

Zantac Use

Potential plaintiffs must be able to demonstrate they used Zantac. People who took Zantac under a doctor’s orders can likely find their prescription history in their medical records. Consumers that purchased the medicine over the counter will need to produce purchase receipts or other proof of purchase.

Cancer Diagnosis

The most serious medical diagnosis connected to the use of Zantac and other products that include ranitidine as an ingredient in certain types of cancer. The cancers commonly associated with these products include:

• Bladder cancer
• Colon cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Liver cancer
• Esophageal cancer

Connection Between Zantac and Diagnosis

A connection between Zantac and a medical diagnosis is necessary to establish before moving forward with a lawsuit. Consumers who show they took high doses of Zantac consistently may be able to satisfy this requirement. Another consideration is the length of time the patient used the drug. A Zantac lawyer may suggest that potential claimants should be able to demonstrate they took Zantac for at least a year before filing or joining a lawsuit.

Zantac Multi-District Litigation

The six class-action lawsuits filed are now the components of a Zantac multidistrict litigation action commonly referred to as MDL 2924. The goal of the lawyers involved in the case is to effectively recover the cost of the following damages for the single class of claimants:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Decreased earning capacity
• Pain, inconvenience, and suffering
• Emotional turmoil
• Wrongful death

Exercising Legal Options

Individuals exposed to harm from taking Zantac or a related product can seek redress through a personal lawsuit. Potential claimants can also choose to join MDL 2924. The first step in the process is speaking to a Zantac lawyer to discuss all available options.