#75 - David Light: Zantac recall due to cancer concerns – what you need to know

Oct 14, 2019 1h 37m 12 insights

In this episode, David Light, CEO of Valisure (the company which alerted the FDA to the Zantac cancer concerns), explains the story behind the recent recalls by manufacturers of ranitidine, a common heartburn medication, sold under the trade name Zantac, due to a potential link to increased cancer risk. David breaks down all the evidence, the role of his unique pharmacy company which tests all its drugs before being dispensed to consumers, and the reason behind the FDA's tempered reaction to the alarming study results. David makes the argument that Zantac/ranitidine is an inherently unstable molecule which explains the grossly excessive amounts of NDMA (a probable human carcinogen) as opposed to just a contamination for which there could be numerous causes. Finally, David and Peter both provide recommendations for what to do if you or someone you know is currently taking Zantac/ranitidine. We discuss: <ul> <li>The impetus for starting Valisure, a unique online pharmacy that tests all its medications [6:45]; </li> <li>The story behind the recall of valsartan, and the role which Valisure played [24:30]; </li> <li>Testing Zantac: The shocking results from Valisure's initial testing with major potential cancer implications [36:00]; </li> <li>NDMA - the probable human carcinogen found in Zantac/ranitidine [48:45]; </li> <li>The epidemiology question: Are we inferring too much from epidemiology? What can we take away from the existing studies? [53:30]; </li> <li>The staggering results from the 2016 Stanford study, why it didn't alarm more people, and how Valisure found the missing biological link [1:01:30]; </li> <li>Alerting the FDA, the FDA's tempered response, and question of contamination vs. inherent instability [1:07:30]; </li> <li>How confident is David that the elevated levels of NDMA being found in ranitidine are not due to instrumentation, human error, or temperature contamination? [1:24:15]; </li> <li>The massive risk being taken by the FDA by not doing more to keep ranitidine away from consumers [1:25:15]; </li> <li>If someone is taking Zantac/ranitidine, what should they do? What else do they need to know? [1:27:45]; and </li> <li>More.</li> </ul> Learn more: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/">https://peterattiamd.com/</a> Show notes page for this episode: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/davidlight/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">https://peterattiamd.com/davidlight/</a> Subscribe to receive exclusive subscriber-only content: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/">https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/</a> Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/">https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/</a> Connect with Peter on <a href="http://Facebook.com/PeterAttiaMD">Faceboo</a>k | <a href="http://Twitter.com/PeterAttiaMD">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://Instagram.com/PeterAttiaMD">Instagram</a>.

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Actionable Insights

1. Immediately Stop Taking Ranitidine

Cease taking ranitidine (Zantac) immediately, regardless of brand or generic, because the drug molecule itself is highly unstable and degrades into NDMA, a potent carcinogen, under various conditions, including those found in the human body.

2. Dispose of Ranitidine Properly

Do not flush ranitidine down the toilet or throw it in the trash, as it can degrade into NDMA in wastewater treatment plants and contaminate drinking water; instead, return it to a pharmacy or designated medication disposal facility.

3. Seek Gastric Acid Alternatives

If taking ranitidine for gastric acid reduction, consult your doctor to switch to an equally efficacious alternative, as many safe and effective options exist without the inherent risk of NDMA formation.

4. Chemically Validate All Medications

Consider using pharmacies that chemically validate every batch of medication they dispense, as the FDA does not perform this testing on most drugs, and self-reporting by overseas manufacturers can lead to quality issues.

5. Scrutinize ARB Blood Pressure Drugs

If taking or prescribing ARB medications (e.g., Valsartan, Losartan), be aware of ongoing recalls due to contamination with potent carcinogens like NDMA and DMF, which vary by manufacturer and batch.

6. Verify Drug Purity By Batch

Recognize that drug quality can vary significantly even from the same manufacturer across different batches; therefore, seek batch-specific chemical validation rather than relying on general manufacturer reputation.

7. Prioritize Trustworthy Information Sources

When consuming information, especially about health, prioritize sources that are not influenced by financial incentives from companies, as this ensures an honest relationship and unbiased advocacy.

8. Understand Asymmetric Health Risk

When making health decisions, particularly regarding medications, evaluate the asymmetry of risk by weighing the potentially infinite downside of inaction against the limited upside of maintaining the status quo, especially when safe alternatives exist.

9. Critically Evaluate FDA Statements

When the FDA makes statements about drug safety, particularly when independent findings suggest otherwise, critically evaluate the underlying data and methodology, as initial assessments may not always capture the full scope of a problem.

10. Question Generic Drug Consistency

Be aware that generic medications can vary significantly (up to 45% in bioequivalence) from brand-name drugs or other generics, which may lead to inconsistent effects or side effects.

11. Recognize Regulatory Oversight Limits

Understand that regulatory bodies like the FDA have limited resources and rely heavily on self-reported data from manufacturers, meaning not all medications are chemically tested by the regulator, which can lead to quality issues.

12. Optimize Health and Longevity

Actively seek and synthesize information to optimize performance, health, and longevity, as this approach can lead to a higher quality and more fulfilling life.