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US health officials have discovered a small amount of potentially carcinogenic chemical in a popular drug against heartburn.
On September 13, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that ranitidine samples – known as the Zantac brand – contained a contaminant called N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). It is the same chemical that was found in heart medications and high blood pressure last year, causing many recalls of these affected drugs.
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NDMA is classified as likely carcinogen to humans because animal studies have shown that it is carcinogenic. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, this chemical was a by-product of some industrial processes and was formerly used in the production of rocket fuel. Low levels are found in drinking water and some foods, including some meats and dairy products.
At present, the FDA is not recommending any recall of ranitidine, and the agency also does not tell consumers to stop taking the drug. The FDA is currently investigating whether the low levels of NDMA present in the drug pose a risk to the health of patients.
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"Although NDMA can cause significant amounts of damage, the FDA levels in ranitidine from preliminary testing barely exceed the amounts you would expect in common foods," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the Center for Evaluation and Drug Research, said in a statement.
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People taking versions of ranitidine on prescription who want to stop using the drug should talk to their health care provider first, said the FDA. And people taking over-the-counter versions of ranitidine might consider using a different over-the-counter medication for their disease, as there are several drugs approved for the same or similar uses, the agency noted. .
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Originally posted on Live Science.
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