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Zantac’s maker kept quiet about cancer risks for 40 years

fiercepharma.com

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Re: Zantac’s maker kept quiet about cancer risks for 40 years

#121

Post by tyingq »

jamesadney wrote: post #120
tyingq wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a different class of drug. Zantac is a PPI (proton pump inhibitor). Other drugs in the same PPI class are Prilosec (Omeprazole) and Nexium (Esomeprazole), and while not recalled, could have similar problems. Pepcid (famotidine) and Tagamet (Cimetidine) are H2 blockers, another class of heartburn medication, that hasn't shown the same issues. On the other hand, untreated chronic reflux is a big driver for stomach…

Zantac (ranitidine) is an H2 blocker, not a PPI.

Ugh, yep, you're correct. Too late to edit and fix, unfortunately.

Re: Zantac’s maker kept quiet about cancer risks for 40 years

#122

Post by jstarfish »

Ruthalas wrote: post #107
jstarfish wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's still manufactured overseas. There are shady-but-legit websites that sell it. Nothing else on the market compares.

Any of those marketplaces you'd recommend?

Not particularly.

The few batches we've bought have been legit (Ranimax 150, product of India), but QA with these sorts of vendors isn't exactly guaranteed (for all I know, your first purchase would be reconstituted sawdust and rat droppings). I'm not comfortable giving standing referrals to any fly-by-night operation.

I just mentioned it as a possibility because for those with bad-enough GERD, there are no retail options, and the assumption is that the product has been recalled worldwide. Not so!

Re: Zantac’s maker kept quiet about cancer risks for 40 years

#123

Post by [deleted] »

Scoundreller wrote: post #54
blacksmith_tb wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even something as simple as telling people to store the bottle in the refrigerator...

if you have to sell your OTC medication in a refrigerator, your sales will drop a lot. It's not somewhere people think to look, and the impression is that it's perishable. Which people can appreciate for something like a steak, but not their "safe and usual" medications.

[deleted]

Re: Zantac’s maker kept quiet about cancer risks for 40 years

#124

Post by jwdunne »

bigtunacan wrote: post #73
Scoundreller wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

if you have to sell your OTC medication in a refrigerator, your sales will drop a lot. It's not somewhere people think to look, and the impression is that it's perishable. Which people can appreciate for something like a steak, but not their "safe and usual" medications.

I would gladly refrigerate it if it meant I could still use it. I've never had another acid reducer that works as well for me as Zantac. I have so many major health problems that quite frankly I'll probably be dead before I could get cancer from this stuff.

Nexium, or esomeprazole, works well, or better than Zantac, and can be purchased OTC (at least here in the UK). It’s pricey but usually lasts a couple of days or more so it stretches further.

Re: Zantac’s maker kept quiet about cancer risks for 40 years

#125

Post by jakeogh »

lostlogin wrote: post #98
Scoundreller wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

if you have to sell your OTC medication in a refrigerator, your sales will drop a lot. It's not somewhere people think to look, and the impression is that it's perishable. Which people can appreciate for something like a steak, but not their "safe and usual" medications.

Paracetamol for children was stored in the fridge and just lived there in my household. It’s a sweet syrupy liquid. It’s not over-the-counter where I live, but the adult (tablet) version is.

AKA acetaminophen AKA Tylenol. On the safety scale, it's dangerous stuff. Profitable not only because it works, and is perceived as safe, but the long term side effects are even more profitable.

Re: Zantac’s maker kept quiet about cancer risks for 40 years

#126

Post by sbaiddn »

pabs3 wrote: post #82
sbaiddn wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just as a heads up from a professional semi-chemist: dont ingest anything thats been at car temperatures. Its hot enough to chemically alter things, activate diffusions, speed bacterial growth, etc. Its not hot enough to sterilize what you're ingesting.

What is a professional semi-chemist?

A trained physicist who finds himself doing more chemistry (50% of my time - mostly theoretical) than he ever cared for (none would be ideal)

Re: Zantac’s maker kept quiet about cancer risks for 40 years

#127

Post by sbaiddn »

lostlogin wrote: post #99
tsukurimashou wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

he's only working half the time

Wouldn’t that be a semi-professional chemist? A professional semi-chemist sounds much more interesting.

Not too cool in reality, but glad you caught that subtlety. Im not a chemist, I just play one for my employer

Re: Zantac’s maker kept quiet about cancer risks for 40 years

#129

Post by sbaiddn »

kerkeslager wrote: post #103
sbaiddn wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just as a heads up from a professional semi-chemist: dont ingest anything thats been at car temperatures. Its hot enough to chemically alter things, activate diffusions, speed bacterial growth, etc. Its not hot enough to sterilize what you're ingesting.

What would be your advice for someone who lives in a van and can't reasonably store their medications elsewhere?

Im assuming you're employed but live in S. Cal. Some of my suggestions assume that.

Thoughts:

- You really need a cigarette lighter mini fridge. They're less than $100 at home depot. Note, they suck, but you don't have alternatives and you'll be able to have a cold beer occasionally.

Careful not to drain the car battery, and keep it in a shaded part of your vehicle.

- I find that there can large T differences in the car. Under the seat is fairly cool, and the T is more stable.

Keep your meds and the mini-fridge there, preferably by the floor vent if equipped.

- Does your van have windows or is it a workman's van? Glass is your enemy. You probably cant afford to just buy a van, but a white windowless Transit van is better than a Pacifica.

- Use white bed sheets to cover your interior and shade everything.

- you probably do this, but solar windshield covers.

- Keep your windows open a crack. Really just a crack small enough to keep even the rain out. Convection is huge. This is most important at day if crime is locally a problem.

- Paint it white.

- If you can, take advantage of the van's mobility and move to fairer weather throughout the year. If you have to stay in the LA region, go north just across the mesa (?) towards S. Barbara. Much cooler there. Id set myself up in Montecito myself.

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