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Avoid fake influenza products, FDA warns
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The FDA is warning consumers to avoid unapproved products that marketers claim will cure or prevent influenza. Agency officials acknowledged that this influenza season has been especially severe and vaccine efficacy is low, perhaps making fake influenza cure claims more tempting.
“This year the flu has been widespread, impacting millions of patients across the country, and leading to a new record number of flu-related hospitalizations,” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, said in a news release. “We understand the toll this year’s flu season has taken on peoples’ lives. As the flu continues to make people sick, and even cause deaths, unscrupulous actors may also be taking advantage of unsuspecting consumers by promoting their fraudulent products that have not been reviewed by the FDA to be safe and effective.”
The FDA reminded consumers that, although there are over-the-counter products to relieve influenza symptoms, there are no legally marketed cure or prevention OTC drugs. The following claims may be signs of a fraudulent product:
- It reduces the severity and length of influenza.
- It boosts immunity naturally without an influenza vaccine.
- It is a safe and effective alternative to the influenza vaccine.
- It prevents influenza.
- It promotes faster recovery from influenza.
Although the FDA has taken action against those who market unapproved products for a variety of illnesses, those actors can subsequently move their operations or websites. The FDA routinely issues warnings about scams at https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ProtectYourself/HealthFraud/default.htm.
The agency is also warning consumers about online pharmacies that sell supposed influenza drugs that can be dangerous. Those pharmacies may allow consumers to buy drugs without a prescription, may not have licensed pharmacists available for consultation, charge very low prices, operate outside the United States or ship worldwide.
Consumers and clinicians can report adverse effects of products, including potentially fraudulent ones, at https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/HowToReport/default.htm.
Disclosure: Gottlieb reports no relevant financial disclosures.