FDA testing finds hidden ingredients in products marketed for arthritis, pain
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Key takeaways:
- FDA testing found products to contain ingredients not listed on the product label.
- These types of products may cause serious side effects or interactions with medications.
The FDA has advised consumers to exercise caution before using certain products promoted for arthritis and pain, as some have been found to contain hidden ingredients that may pose a significant health risk.
According to an FDA release, testing found multiple products containing active drug ingredients not listed on the product labels. To protect consumers from unsafe products and help them be more aware of what they buy, the FDA has compiled a list of public notifications that includes a small fraction of the potentially dangerous products on the market.
In November, the FDA added Himalayan Pain Relief Tea, Tepee Herbal Tea and Notoginseng Formula Special Grout Granule to this list.
“It is clear from the results of our decade of testing that retailers and distributors, including online marketplaces, do not effectively prevent these types of potentially harmful products from being sold to consumers,” the FDA said in the release.
FDA testing found that Himalayan Pain Relief Tea contains two drug ingredients not listed on the product label — diclofenac, an NSAID, and dexamethasone, a corticosteroid.
The FDA warns that these products may have the potential to cause serious side effects and interact with medications or dietary supplements a consumer is taking.
NSAIDs can cause increased cardiovascular events, as well as serious gastrointestinal damage. Corticosteroid use can impair a person’s ability to fight infections and cause high blood sugar levels, muscle injuries and psychiatric problems.
Since the FDA cannot test all products sold online and in stores, it advises consumers to be cautious of all arthritis and pain management products before use.
The full list of potentially unsafe products that have been flagged by the FDA can be found here.
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