Ranitidine, a once-trusted over-the-counter anti-acidity pill taken by millions, is under scrutiny after fears that it may contain a probable cancer-causing contaminant.
Ranitidine belongs to a class of drugs called histamine-2 (H-2) blockers, which reduce but don’t completely stop stomach and and production. Ranitidine is not carcinogenic on its own. The concern arises when the molecule breaks down over time or under certain conditions to form N-Nitro sodimethylamine (NDMA), a nitrosamine linked to possible cancer risk. Since it’s cheap and easily available, contamination could impact many.
We are yet to come across a medicine, including vitamins, which doesn’t have side effects. No drug should be taken without medical supervision. Reports say the concentration of contaminants in Ranitidine is very small. But prolonged consumption and cumulative exposure could exceed safe limits.
Ranitidine can degrade overtime, especially when exposed to heat, humidity, and light, producing increased NDMA levels and potentially raising cancer risk. Reducing shelf life shortens the window in which NDMA can pile up, helping to keep it within safe limits.
Stomach acid serves three purposes — killing ingested germs, starting protein digestion, and activating pepsin for further protein breakdown. Drugs like Pantoprazole reduce stomach acid to nil, removing the first line of defence and raising chances of infections such as Hepatitis A and E, gastroenteritis, and typhoid. These drugs can also lead to bloating as the undigested food ferments in the gut, producing more gas.
Short-term use of Ranitidine (up to two months) is not a likely cause for concern. But if considering long-term, talk to the doctor about switching to another H-2 blocker like Famotidine or a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) lime Omeprazole. If you’re using it just to relieve burning in the chest or upper abdomen, replace with a liquid antacid.
Since acid secretion becomes nil with Pantoprazole and other PPIS, t he body responds by increasing the hormone gastrin, which makes glands that secrete acid proliferate. When you stop using the drug, those glands start secreting acid with a vengeance, causing rebound acidity. It’s a vicious cycle that makes patients want to go back to the drug. One long-term effect of these pills is non-cancerous stomach polyps.
