The popular heartburn drug Zantac has recently been reported to contain elevated levels of a chemical that could cause cancer. The levels of the chemical N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) found in this drug, have been tested to be anywhere from 3,000 to 26,000 times higher than the legal limit set by the Food and Drug Administration.
Therefore, the FDA has issued a warning, and the pharmacy chains CVS and Walgreens have already announced they are pulling Zantac off the shelves. Pharmacies are suspending the sales of not only Zantac but also generic versions of this drug that contain ranitidine, which is an active ingredient commonly used to treat heartburn.