But when the fussiness symptoms are severe and consistent with reflux or the baby is not gaining weight well, treatment with an acid reduction medication is considered.

One common medication is a group of acid reducers known as H2-blockers, with the most common example containing ranitidine.

Ranitidine is in the news right now because the FDA recently reported that they had found small amount of a potentially cancer causing chemical in brand name and generic Zantac (ranitidine) products.

CVS Pharmacy has stopped selling products which contain ranitidine (Zantac as well as its generic version of the heartburn medication) until further notice.

According to the FDA, Zantac has potential cancer-causing chemicals. But those are found in anything else we eat, breathe, sleep, live on.

For now, here’s what we do know:

1. There are likely many babies who have been placed on ranitidine unnecessarily for what is normal fussiness or normal spit up.
2. There are also likely many babies and children who have been started on Zantac but no longer need the medication and have been passively continued on it.

We don’t know the long-term effects, but this is your baby we are talking about. So, even if the risk is minimal it would be reasonable to consider your baby's case and have a conversation with your doctor about whether coming off the medication might be the right thing to do anyway.