CVS Health Corp. will stop selling the popular heartburn drug Zantac after traces of a known carcinogen were found in some of the products by the US Food and Drug Administration.
The pharmacy giant said Saturday it’s suspended sales of Zantac, as well as its own generic ranitidine products, out of “an abundance of caution” as the FDA continues its review.
Small amounts of the carcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) were found in the ranitidine products. The carcinogen has also been found in some widely used blood pressure medicines, leading to shortages of the drugs.
US health officials are not calling for individuals to stop taking the medication at this time.
“The levels that FDA is finding in ranitidine from preliminary tests barely exceed amounts found in common foods,” CVS said in a statement, noting these products have not been recalled and the agency is continuing to evaluate whether low levels of NDMA pose a risk to patients.