We Recommend That You Do Not Throw Away Any Leftover Ranitidine Pills. If Possible, Store Them In A Safe Place For Potential Testing And Proof Of Purchase.
Update: This case is no longer being pursued. Following the court hearing in Vancouver, the certification of this class action was dismissed. You can view the decision here.
Update: April 1, 2020, FDA Requests Removal of All Ranitidine Products (Zantac) from the Market, to read more on this please click here.
Update: On October 30, 2019, Health Canada announced that Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. is recalling all lots of its prescription ranitidine products from the Canadian market.
Update: On October 25, 2019, Health Canada announced that Dominion Pharmacal, Laboratoire Riva Inc., Pharmascience Inc. and Vita Health Inc. are recalling all lots of their prescription and over-the-counter ranitidine products from the Canadian market.
Update: On October 18, 2019, Health Canada advised that additional prescription and over-the-counter ranitidine drugs, including Zantac, are being recalled by Sanofi Consumer Health Inc., Sivem Pharmaceuticals ULC and Teva Canada Limited because they may contain NDMA above acceptable levels.
Health Canada detects NDMA in Ranitidine products.
An impurity, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), has been detected in Ranitidine products for sale in Canada. NDMA is a potential human carcinogen, which means that it could cause cancer with long-term exposure.
The active pharmaceutical ingredient Ranitidine is indicated for the treatment of stomach problems, ulcers, heartburn, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Ranitidine products are available in Canada as over-the-counter medication or by prescription.
On September 13, 2019, Health Canada issued a product information update advising that they are investigating the presence of NDMA in some Ranitidine drugs.
A further Health Canada report on September 17, 2019, advised that all lots of Ranitidine 150mg and 300mg tablets were being recalled by Sandoz Canada Inc., one of the leading manufacturers of the drug.
On September 25, 2019, Health Canada advised that four other companies: Apotex Inc., Pro Doc Limitee, Sanis Health Inc. and Sivem Pharmaceuticals ULC were also recalling their Ranitidine drugs due to the presence of NDMA.
Ranitidine class action lawsuit
The law firms of Charney Lawyers PC and Rice Harbut Elliot LLP have commenced a national class action on behalf of all persons in Canada who purchased or ingested one or more of the Ranitidine products for sale in Canada from January 1, 2010 to present.
The press release, dated October 11, 2019, stating that a proposed class action has been commenced with respect to the recall can be viewed here.
Recalls and safety alerts from Health Canada
Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. recalls prescription ranitidine products as a precaution; request to stop distribution remains in place while Health Canada continues to assess NDMA, Health Canada, updated October 30, 2019.
Sun Pharma Canada Inc. Ranitidine Product Recall (2019-10-29), Health Canada, updated October 30, 2019.
Vita Health Products Inc Ranitidine Product Recall (2019-10-24), Health Canada, updated October 28, 2019.
Laboratoire Riva Inc. Ranitidine Product Recall (2019-10-24), Health Canada, updated October 25, 2019.
Pharmascience Inc. Ranitidine Product Recall (2019-10-23), Health Canada, updated October 25, 2019.
Maximum Strength Acid Reducer Without Prescription (2019-10-23), Health Canada, updated October 25, 2019.
Sanofi Consumer Health Zantac Product Recall (2019-10-18), Health Canada, updated October 23, 2019.
Teva Canada Ranitidine Product Recall (2019-10-17), updated October 28, 2019.
Appotex Inc Ranitidine Product Recall (2019-09-24), Health Canada, updated September 26, 2019.
Sanis Health Inc. Ranitidine Product Recall (2019-09-24), Health Canada, updated September 26, 2019.
Pro Doc Limitee Ranitidine Product Recall (2019-09-24), Health Canada, updated September 25, 2019.
Sivem Pharmaceuticals ULC Ranitidine Product Recall (2019-09-24), Health Canada, updated September 25, 2019.
Sandoz Canada Ranitidine Product Recall (2019-09-17), Health Canada, updated September 18, 2019.
Health Canada assessing NDMA in Ranitidine, Health Canada, updated September 13, 2019.
Health Canada’s list of Ranitidine products being recalled in Canada at this time:
Company | Product Name/Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) | DIN | Strength | Lot | Date added |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apotex Inc. | Acid Reducer (ranitidine) sold under the brand names Equate and Selection | 02296160 | 150 mg | All lots | September 25, 2019 |
Apotex Inc. | Apo-Ranitidine Oral Solution | 02280833 | 15 mg/mL | All lots | September 25, 2019 |
Apotex Inc. | Apo-Ranitidine Tablet 150mg | 00733059 | 150 mg | All lots | September 25, 2019 |
Apotex Inc. | Apo-Ranitidine Tablet 300mg | 00733067 | 300 mg | All lots | September 25, 2019 |
Dominion Pharmacal | Maximum Strength Acid Reducer Without Prescription (ranitidine) sold under the brand name Personnelle | 02407523 | 150 mg | All lots | October 25, 2019 |
Laboratoire Riva Inc. | Riva-Ranitidine 150 | 02247814 | 150 mg | All lots | October 25, 2019 |
Laboratoire Riva Inc. | Riva-Ranitidine 300 | 02247815 | 300 mg | All lots | October 25, 2019 |
Laboratoire Riva Inc. | Acid Reducer (ranitidine) sold under the brand names Biomedic, Circle K and Option+ | 02452464 | 75 mg | All lots | October 25, 2019 |
Pharmascience Inc. | PMS-Ranitidine 150 mg | 02242453 | 150 mg | All lots | October 25, 2019 |
Pharmascience Inc. | PMS-Ranitidine 300 mg | 02242454 | 300 mg | All lots | October 25, 2019 |
Pharmascience Inc. | Acid Reducer (ranitidine) sold under the brand names Atoma, Biomedic, Compliments, Exact, Life Brand, London Drugs, Option+, Personnelle, Pharmasave, Preferred Pharmacy, Rexall and Selection | 02247551 | 75 mg | All lots | October 25, 2019 |
Pharmascience Inc. | Maximum Strength Acid Reducer Without Prescription (ranitidine) sold under the brand names Atoma, Biomedic, Compliments, Co-op Care+, Equate, Exact, Health One, Kirkland Signature, London Drugs, Option+, Personnelle, Pharmasave, Rexall and Selection | 02293471 | 150 mg | All lots | October 25, 2019 |
Pharmascience Inc. | Acid Reducer (ranitidine) sold under the brand names Exact and Life Brand | 02400103 | 150 mg | All lots | October 25, 2019 |
Pro Doc Limitée | Ranitidine - 150 | 00740748 | 150 mg | All lots | September 25, 2019 |
Pro Doc Limitée | Ranitidine - 300 | 00740756 | 300 mg | All lots | September 25, 2019 |
*NEW* Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc | Ran-Ranitidine | 02336480 | 150 mg | All lots | October 30, 2019 |
*NEW* Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc | Ran-Ranitidine | 02336502 | 300 mg | All lots | October 30, 2019 |
Sandoz Canada | Sandoz Ranitidine | 02243229 | 150 mg | All lots | September 17, 2019 |
Sandoz Canada | Sandoz Ranitidine | 02243230 | 300 mg | All lots | September 17, 2019 |
Sanis Health Inc | Ranitidine | 02353016 | 150 mg | All lots | September 25, 2019 |
Sanis Health Inc | Ranitidine | 02353024 | 300 mg | All lots | September 25, 2019 |
Sanofi Consumer Health Inc. | Zantac (ranitidine) | 02230287 | 75 mg | All lots | October 18, 2019 |
Sanofi Consumer Health Inc. | Zantac Maximum Strength Non-Prescription (ranitidine) | 02277301 | 150 mg | All lots | October 18, 2019 |
Sivem Pharmaceuticals ULC | Ranitidine | 02385953 | 150 mg | NP4179 NP4183 NP4184 NP5656 NP5657 NT2721 NT2722 NT2724 NT2757 NT2762 NT2763 NT2764 NT2765 PJ2434 PJ2435 PV6243 PV6244 PV6245 | September 25, 2019 |
K46484 K46485 K48440 K48679 K50204 K50206 K50207 K50590 K50594 K50677 K50908 K50925 K50928 K50932 K50935 K51080 | October 18, 2019 | ||||
Sivem Pharmaceuticals ULC | Ranitidine | 02385961 | 300 mg | NP4177 NP4180 NT1365 PX8854 | September 25, 2019 |
K50624 K50941 K50947 K50950 | October 18, 2019 | ||||
Teva Canada Limited | Act Ranitidine | 02248570 | 150 mg | All lots | October 18, 2019 |
Teva Canada Limited | Act Ranitidine | 02248571 | 300 mg | All lots | October 18, 2019 |
Vita Health Products Inc. | Acid Reducer (ranitidine) sold under the brand names Equate, iPharma, Stanley and Western Family | 02298740 | 75 mg | All lots | October 25, 2019 |
Vita Health Products Inc. | Maximum Strength Acid Reducer (ranitidine) sold under the brand names Equate, iPharma and Western Family | 02298902 | 150 mg | All lots | October 25, 2019 |