National Pharmacy Chains Pulling Zantac, Related Medications From Shelves Amid Possible Cancer Worries

Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy are among the growing list of stores
that have stopped selling the heartburn medicine Zantac and generic versions of
the medicine after the Food and Drug Administration warned earlier this month
that it had detected low levels of a cancer-causing chemical in samples of the
drug. The drug, known as ranitidine, has not been recalled, and the companies
have said customers who bought the products can return them for a refund. The
FDA says it is investigating the source of the contamination as well as
possible risk to the patients, recommending they talk to their doctors – and that
those who take over-the-counter versions consider switching to a different
medication. Other retailers that have removed Zantac and generic versions of
the medicine as of Monday include Rite Aid and the Midwest grocery chain Hy-Vee,
among others.