Since Sept. 2019, more and more drug recalls have surfaced regarding heartburn medications containing ranitidine, the most popular of which is Zantac. Once the recalls started, they continued to expand to include nearly all brands of this medication.
Now, nizatidine, another medication used by those here in Ohio and elsewhere for gastrointestinal issues, has been added to the list of medications recalled for NDMA. Nizatidine is a popular treatment for gastrointestinal issues such as:
Since the recalls of products containing ranitidine began last year, the Food and Drug Administration, along with consumers here in Ohio and elsewhere, pharmaceutical companies and researchers have been asking why N-nitrosodimethylamine was found in unsafe concentrations in the popular heartburn medication. Now, there could finally be some clues as to why the Zantac debacle occurred. Emery Pharma's initial reports may provide promising answers, which could ultimately reveal how to make the medication safe again.
Researchers at Emery Pharma believe that heat is the problem. During the manufacturing process, the medication does not reach significant heat levels, which keep the NDMA at a minimum. However, if the product is in an environment in which the heat rises to at least 158 degrees, the medication's NDMA levels skyrocket.
As is the case anywhere else in the country, operating rooms in Ohio's hospitals and surgery centers need to be as sterile as possible in order to help reduce the risk of serious infection to the patient. Anytime the internal structures of the body are exposed, the patient's life is jeopardized not only from the procedure itself, but also from everything in the room. If the materials and tools used are not properly sterilized, they become hazardous materials and a source of infection for the patient.
Recently, it became known that PreSource procedural packs that contain surgical gowns manufactured by Cardinal Health, along with the company's level 3 surgical gowns, could be a source of infection for patients. Surgical gowns come in different protection levels, and level 3 gowns provide moderate protection. Surgeons use them in a wide array of procedures, such as knee replacements and open heart surgery. The company has not yet issued an official recall, but does recommend surgeons not use them due to possible contamination.
All first responders here in Ohio and elsewhere deserve accolades for putting their lives on the line for the other members of their communities. Firefighters in particular put their lives at risk every time they go into a burning building. They heroically fight the chaos they can see, but the unknown enemies they face could put their health at risk. For instance, some of them could end up suffering from mesothelioma due to the presence of asbestos dust and fibers in a building they go into.
The destructive force of fire releases numerous toxic gases, materials and dust into the air. Firefighters do not have the luxury of simply choosing not to go into a building because of this, which is why they wear protective gear to protect their skin and give them clean air to breath, but that does not always keep them from exposure. When their job is done, some of those toxic materials will go back to the station with them.
People in Ohio and across the country have become used to hearing about prescription drugs subject to recalls for one reason or another. However, since the recall of the widely popular over-the-counter medication Zantac kicked off several recalls of ranitidine heartburn medications, concern has been raised about other drugs people use every day and can buy at nearly any store. These fears may be well-founded if a state on the west coast has anything to say about it.
The drug now under the microscope is acetaminophen, which is the primary ingredient in OTC medications such as Tylenol, Theraflu, Excedrin, Robitussin and Sudafed. According to reports, acetaminophen is a human carcinogen. However, there appear to be just as many studies saying it does not cause cancer as there are that conclude it does cause cancer.
It could easily be said that the weed killer called Roundup put Monsanto on the map. When Bayer purchased that company, the larger company inherited some legal matters, including thousands of glysophate lawsuits filed by individuals across the country, including some here in Ohio, who believe that chemical caused their cancer. Even as Bayer negotiates a settlement, the company continues to assert that glysophate is safe.
The company cites what it calls "extensive research" that refutes claims that the chemical is not safe. Bayer also leans on regulators who also continue to say Roundup is safe to use. For this reason, the company says it will not withdraw from the market here in the United States.
Since last fall, several companies have recalled Zantac and its generic alternative, ranitidine, from stores. This occurred in response to the discovery of unacceptable levels of a chemical called N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in some samples of the product.
Both natural and industrial processes can form NDMA, but this substance can be toxic to humans. This is because it can alter DNA and may cause numerous types of cancer. Some samples of the popular heartburn medication contained up to 26,000 times more NDMA than federal regulations allow.
Toward the end of 2019, consumers in Ohio and elsewhere learned that a popular medication some have taken for decades contained a human carcinogen that could give them a variety of cancers. Since Sept. 2019, numerous pharmaceutical companies have voluntarily issued recalls for products containing ranitidine, a popular heartburn reliever. Some people may have hoped that the new year would bring better news, but instead, the Food and Drug Administration only continues to widen heartburn drug recalls.
Two more manufacturers of ranitidine products have pulled their remaining supplies from the market. A third company has removed certain lots of its nizatidine products, which could also unsafe levels of N-Nitrosodimethylamine. In fact, the potential presence of NDMA at unsafe levels is the reason cited by all three companies for the recalls.
When police arrive at the scene of an accident, the mechanics of what happened may not take much investigation to determine. For instance, in a head-on collision, it would normally be obvious that one vehicle was headed in the wrong direction and crashed into another vehicle. However, determining how the wrong-way vehicle ended up in the oncoming lane of travel may take further investigation.
Troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol recently responded to a two-vehicle crash on State Route 2. It was not difficult to determine that shortly before 11:20 p.m. on that Friday night, one vehicle was headed westbound in the eastbound lanes. At the same time, another vehicle was headed eastbound in the correct lanes.
It does not matter whether it happens here in Ohio or elsewhere, it only takes the mistake of one driver to change the lives of individuals and families forever. Every crash that leads to serious or deadly injuries is a tragedy. Even single-car accidents have the potential of devastating more than one family and the lives of multiple people.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol recently responded to an accident on SR 220 involving only one vehicle. Preliminary reports indicate that at around 2:39 a.m., the 18-year-old driver failed to properly round a curve, which sent the vehicle careening off the side of the road and into a guardrail. The mistake cost him his life.
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