There is growing concern as more drugstores are pulling over-the-counter heartburn medications like Zantac.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is looking into the amount of a potential cancer-causing ingredient in the drugs.
Zantac is just one of the meds discovered to have NDMA in it.
A doctor said this is a serious situation but likely a precautionary move.
“It’s a real issue,” said gastroenterologist Dr. Niket Sonpal. “Now the question is, and the research isn’t really definitive, on how much exposure in the short term or in the long term actually leads to ... we simply just know right now that NDMA is associated with cancer but the quantification isn’t clear.”
NDMA also got heart and blood pressure meds pulled from shelves.
If you deal with heartburn, doctors say Tums, Maalox or even a glass of milk could help.
Make sure you call your doctor if you're having issues, like if the heartburn is waking you up at night. There are changes you can make to help.
“The medicines for heartburn control your symptoms,” Sonpal said. “But the truest way to get rid of heartburn is lifestyle change. The No. 1 cause of heartburn in the United States is obesity.”
Other things that can help avoid heartburn:
- Don't eat heavy meals right before bed
- Sleep with your head and shoulders raised
- Recognize which foods are causing issues and stay away
