NDMA & Carcinogen-Contaminated Medications

Nitrosamines are chemical impurities, and some, such as NDMA, are probable human carcinogens1. Since 2018, FDA has found them in several kinds of medicines, leading to recalls and, for ranitidine, a full market withdrawal2. Each medicine has its own story, recall dates and legal path. An NDMA lawyer starts by identifying the exact product and lots you took.

Medicines affected by nitrosamine impurities

FDA's nitrosamine page lists these drug groups among those affected2:

• Losartan, valsartan and other ARB blood pressure drugs
• Metformin, a diabetes drug
• Ranitidine (Zantac), a heartburn drug
• Rifampin and rifapentine, tuberculosis drugs
• Varenicline (Chantix), a stop-smoking drug

Not every product in these groups was affected. Recalls named specific makers and lots. Some medicines had nitrosamines form during storage, as FDA found with ranitidine1.

What a nitrosamine recall means for you

FDA sets acceptable daily intake limits for nitrosamines. It says a person taking a drug at or below those limits every day for 70 years is not expected to have an increased cancer risk2. Recalled products could exceed those limits, but a recall is a quality action. It does not mean the medicine caused cancer in anyone who took it.

Three different things

Recall

A company removes products from the market, on its own or at FDA's request3

Withdrawal

For ranitidine, FDA asked all makers to pull every product1

Lawsuit

A claim that a specific product caused a specific person's injury

Where to read about specific medicines

The two largest groups of nitrosamine claims have their own pages:

• Valsartan, Losartan & Irbesartan Contamination: the ARB recalls and federal MDL No. 2875.
• Zantac / Ranitidine Cancer Claims: the 2020 withdrawal and the federal and state rulings.

For metformin, varenicline and other affected medicines, a review starts with the recall notice for your product. See also Recalled Prescription Drugs.

Who may have a contaminated medicine claim

• The exact medicine, maker and lot, from pharmacy records
• Whether those lots were recalled, and when
• How long you took it
• The cancer type and date of diagnosis
• Other risk factors

Who may be responsible

An investigation may look at the companies that made the active ingredient and the finished drug, and at distributors and pharmacies that sold recalled lots. Recall notices name the companies involved.

Filing deadlines for NDMA lawsuits

Deadlines depend on your state and on when you learned of the injury and its possible cause. Examples:

• Arizona: generally two years for personal injury and wrongful death4.
• California: two years for injury to or death of a person caused by another's wrongful act or neglect5.
• New York: three years for personal injury6, with a separate rule that runs from discovery for injuries caused by the latent effects of exposure to a substance in the body7.
• Texas: two years for personal injury and wrongful death8, and most product liability claims must be brought within 15 years of the product's sale, with an exception for certain latent diseases9.

When the clock starts can depend on when a person knew, or should have known, about the injury and its possible link to the medicine. Rules for children, wrongful death and claims against public hospitals can differ. Ask an NDMA attorney to check the rules for your state early, before records are lost.

Tell Us Your Story →

Records that help a contaminated medicine review

Records worth gathering

Medicine

• Pharmacy printout with maker (NDC)
• Recall letters
• Bottles you still have

Diagnosis

• Pathology report
• Oncology notes
• Imaging

History

• Smoking and family history
• Bills and insurance statements

What happens after you contact CBW Law

How a review works

1. Tell us what happened

   Tell us which medicine you took and what diagnosis followed. You do not need every record first.

2. We match your lots to recalls

   We compare your pharmacy records with the recall notices for your medicine.

3. We gather records

   With your permission, we request pharmacy, medical and billing records from the places that treated you.

4. We explain what we see

   We tell you what the records show, what questions remain and what options may be open, including deadlines.

Taking a recalled medicine does not by itself mean it caused cancer. A claim depends on the product, the lots, the timing and the diagnosis.

Plain English

Medical, Health & Insurance

Terms you may see in a contaminated medicine case.

Impurity terms

Nitrosamine

A family of chemical impurities; some may cause cancer2.

NDMA

N-nitrosodimethylamine, a probable human carcinogen1.

Acceptable intake

FDA's daily limit for an impurity2.

Drug terms

Active ingredient

The part of a medicine that has the effect.

Lot number

A code identifying one batch of a product.

Care and coverage

Pathology report

The lab report that names a cancer type.

Formulary

Your plan's list of covered drugs, which matters when switching.

Questions

NDMA lawsuit questions

Short answers to the questions people ask first.

Which medicines had NDMA?

FDA lists ARB blood pressure drugs, metformin, ranitidine, rifampin and rifapentine, and varenicline among affected groups. Only certain products and lots were recalled.

Is there an NDMA class action?

The largest groups of cases are coordinated as MDLs or in state courts. They are individual claims, not one class action.

Does a recall mean I have a case?

No. An NDMA lawyer checks whether your lots were recalled and whether your diagnosis fits.

Should I stop my medicine?

No. FDA says not to stop prescription medicines because of possible nitrosamines. Ask your pharmacist about a replacement.

How do I know which maker made my pills?

Your pharmacy records usually list the maker or National Drug Code.

What cancers are involved?

It depends on the medicine. The named drug pages explain what each litigation has focused on.

How long do I have to file an NDMA lawsuit?

It depends on your state and on when you learned of the diagnosis and its possible link to the medicine.

Is Chantix part of this?

Varenicline (Chantix) is on FDA's list of affected drug groups. An NDMA attorney checks your specific product.

What does it cost to contact CBW Law?

Telling us your story costs nothing, and contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Tell Us Your Story

If you took a medicine recalled for NDMA or another nitrosamine and were later diagnosed with cancer, an NDMA attorney can review your records.

Tell us what happened. CBW Law will review your information and explain what we see. Submitting information does not establish an attorney-client relationship or guarantee representation.

Tell Us Your Story →Call (800) 476-2416

This page is general information about nitrosamine impurities in medicines. It is not legal or medical advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not stop any medicine without your doctor or pharmacist. A recall or withdrawal does not by itself establish that a medicine caused any person's cancer. Laws and deadlines differ by state, and no outcome can be promised.