Some Drugs Can Become a Cancer-Causing Chemical in the Body

Trace amounts of NDMA in drugs can increase even as the pills sit on the store shelf or are digested after being swallowed

Zantac was a commonly used heartburn and ulcer prescription for decades before being recalled for NDMA.digitalreflections/Shutterstock

When consumers get a prescription drug from the pharmacy, they assume that it’s been tested and is safe to use. But what if a drug changes in harmful ways as it sits on the shelf or in the body?

One dangerous result has been the creation of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a probable carcinogen, in certain drugs. NDMA is found in chlorinated water, food, and drugs in trace amounts. To minimize exposure, the Food and Drug Administration has set an acceptable level of NDMA in each pill at less than 96 nanograms.