Archive for the 'Consumer Alert' Category
Monday, July 11th, 2016
This product, when used as directed, produces an industrial bleach that can cause serious harm.
Swallowing doses of this bleach, such as those recommended in the labeling can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and symptoms of severe dehydration. (more…)
Acne/Rosacea, Cancer, Common Cold, Consumer Alert, Diarrhea/Constipation, FDA/FTC/CDC, HIV/AIDS, Liver Disease, Nausea/Vomiting | Comments Off on Consumer Alert: Miracle Mineral Supplement aka MMS
Wednesday, August 1st, 2012
Prof. Ernst and colleagues reviewed the evidence and they aren’t sanguine. (more…)
Cancer, Consumer Alert, Herbals, Kidney Disease, Liver Disease, Prof. Ernst, Stroke | Comments Off on Contaminated and adulterated herbals
Monday, June 4th, 2012
FDA is warning consumers that Reumofan Plus, marketed as a natural dietary supplement for pain relief and other serious conditions, contains several active pharmaceutical ingredients not listed on the label that could be harmful.
Here’s what we know. (more…)
Consumer Alert, FDA/FTC/CDC, Heart Disease, Pain, Stroke, Ulcers | Comments Off on Consumer alert: Reumofan Plus
Tuesday, May 29th, 2012
This has nothing to do with taking a bath.
Researchers at the University of Florida College of Medicine, in Gainesville, tell us, “The abuse of psychoactive “bath salts” (PABS) has become commonplace, and patients with PABS overdoses are presenting to emergency departments with increasing frequency. (more…)
Consumer Alert, Epilepsy/Seizures, Heart Disease | Comments Off on Bath salts becoming illegal
Tuesday, May 29th, 2012
Unlike traditional cosmetic bath salts, which are packaged and sold for adding to bath water for soaking and cleaning, drugs sold as “bath salts” have no legitimate use for bathing and are intended for substance abuse.
Confused? (more…)
Balneotherapy, Consumer Alert | Comments Off on Consumer Alert: “Bath Salts”
Monday, February 13th, 2012
The FDA tells us that Wholistic Herbs Inc. is recalling all of its “Koff & Kold” spray with herbal extract and “Kold Sore” spray with liquid sea mineral. (more…)
Asthma/Allergy, Common Cold, Consumer Alert, Cough, FDA/FTC/CDC, Infection, Shingles | Comments Off on Consumer Alert: “Koff & Kold” and “Kold Sore”
Monday, February 13th, 2012
According to the FDA, RegenArouse (Lot 130100) contains tadalafil (Cialis), an FDA-approved drug used as treatment for male erectile dysfunction, making this product an unapproved new drug. (more…)
Consumer Alert, Erectile Dysfunction, FDA/FTC/CDC | Comments Off on Consumer Alert: RegenArouse
Friday, February 10th, 2012
Researchers at the Royal Children’s Hospital, in Melbourne, Australia, report the adverse events associated with the use of CAM that came to the attention of Australian pediatricians. (more…)
Children, Consumer Alert | Comments Off on Safety of CAM in children
Monday, January 30th, 2012
Researchers at the Royal Military College of Canada, tested 42 medicines. (more…)
Ayurveda, Consumer Alert | Comments Off on Absorbability of arsenic and lead in traditional Ayurvedic medicines
Thursday, January 12th, 2012
The University of Connecticut reports that Dr. Dipak Das falsified the results of some studies of resveratrol.
But the CAM connection goes deeper. (more…)
Consumer Alert, Garlic, Resveratrol, Vitamins | Comments Off on Resveratrol flawed science, and more
Monday, December 19th, 2011
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is warning residents about the dangers of the improper use of neti pots. (more…)
Asthma/Allergy, Consumer Alert, Infection | Comments Off on Caution when using a neti pot
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011
This is the first time FDA has taken legal action against a dietary supplement manufacturer (ATF Fitness Products) of this size for failure to comply with the dietary supplement current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations. (more…)
Consumer Alert, FDA/FTC/CDC | Comments Off on Consumer Alert: FDA takes legal action against ATF Fitness Products Inc.
Sunday, November 13th, 2011
Not always, according to this report from the Royal Children’s Hospital, in Melbourne, Australia. (more…)
CAM Use, Consumer Alert, Diarrhea/Constipation, Infants | Comments Off on CAM: It might be “natural,” but is it safe?
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011
Researchers at the University of Rome, in Italy, report on adverse reactions associated with herbal laxatives reported to the Italian Medicines Agency and the Italian National Institute of Health over 9 years. (more…)
Consumer Alert, Diarrhea/Constipation, Herbals | Comments Off on Side effects from herbals used as laxatives
Tuesday, September 6th, 2011
Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center, in New York, reviewed non-drug treatments.
Let’s focus on herbals. (more…)
Consumer Alert, Ephedra, High Blood Pressure, Licorice, St. John's Wort, Yohimbine | Comments Off on Limited value of herbals to lower blood pressure
Tuesday, September 6th, 2011
It’s one of the most popular herbal supplements for treating depression. Dr. Perry Halushka from the Medical University of South Carolina has reviewed the scientific literature, including the many drug interactions associated with its use.
But the biggest problem is the lack of standardization and reliability of the contents of commercially available brands of St. John’s wort.
(more…)
Consumer Alert, St. John's Wort | Comments Off on The biggest problem with St. John’s wort
Thursday, July 14th, 2011
Dr. Jennifer Strohecker at the Intermountain Medical Center, in Salt Lake City, Utah, tells us the safety of warfarin (Coumadin) use can be compromised by many popular herbal and nonherbal supplements.
Here’s what we know from her research. (more…)
Bleeding Disorders, Consumer Alert, Herbals | Comments Off on Risk of interactions between supplements and blood thinners
Monday, May 23rd, 2011
FDA has recalled Pentrexyl Forte Natural because the packaging is believed to be misleading — causing it to be confused with an antibiotic.
(more…)
Consumer Alert, E. DIETARY, FDA/FTC/CDC, Infection | Comments Off on Consumer Alert: Pentrexyl Forte Natural
Wednesday, May 4th, 2011
The FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today announced a joint effort to remove products from the market that make unproven claims to treat, cure, and prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Among the products targeted are Medavir, Herpaflor, Viruxo, C-Cure, and Never An Outbreak. (more…)
Consumer Alert, FDA/FTC/CDC, Infection | Comments Off on Consumer Alert: Fraudulent STD treatments
Thursday, April 21st, 2011
FDA is warning companies to stop making MRSA claims.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria can cause an infection that’s highly resistant to some antibiotics. MRSA cause infection after they enter the body through a cut or sore.
The US Food and Drug Administration has issued 4 warning letters to companies that manufacture and market over-the-counter (OTC) drug products (including hand sanitizers) that claim to prevent infection by MRSA. (more…)
Consumer Alert, FDA/FTC/CDC, Infection | Comments Off on FDA warns companies to stop making MRSA claims