CVS suspends sale of Zantac and similar CVS-brand heartburn medicine due to cancer worries

Saturday, Sept. 28, CVS, the largest pharmacy chain in the U.S., announced it has stopped selling the over-the-counter heartburn medication Zantac and its CVS Health brand of ranitidine “until further notice.”

Reportedly, other pharmacy chains including Walgreens and Rite-Aid, and retailers like Walmart, have already suspended Zantac sales at their stores.

In a statement, CVS said the action is being taken out of an abundance of caution due to a recent product alert from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that ranitidine products may contain a low level of nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which is a probable human carcinogen.

Sept. 24, the FDA announced a voluntary recall of some lots of prescription Ranitidine from the manufacturer Sandoz for similar contamination.

The FDA is continuing to evaluate whether low levels of NDMA in ranitidine pose a risk to patients. The levels that FDA is finding in ranitidine from preliminary tests barely exceed amounts found in common foods.

Zantac brand products and CVS brand ranitidine products have not been recalled, and the FDA is not recommending that patients stop taking ranitidine at this time. Nonetheless, customers who purchased these products from CVS can return them to CVS for a refund.

Ranitidine is an H2 Blocker that is taken to provide heartburn relief. CVS Pharmacy will continue to sell other over-the-counter H2 Blockers, including Pepcid, Tagamet and its respective generic equivalents, famotidine and cimetidine.

CVS advised that consumers seeking alternate therapy to treat their condition should speak with their healthcare provider or a CVS pharmacist. CVS pharmacists are always available to discuss any questions or concerns that customers may have about their medications.