“Homeopathic” Drugs Can Cause Life-Threatening Harm, FDA Warns
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued warning letters on Tuesday to four companies for selling injectable “homeopathic” drugs that are potentially harmful to patients. These warning letters are the most recent in a series of warnings and concerns that the FDA has expressed over products labeled as “homeopathic.”
According to the FDA, products labeled as homeopathic have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety and effectiveness to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent or mitigate any diseases or conditions. Accordingly, products labeled as homeopathic may harm consumers who choose to treat serious diseases or conditions with such products instead of a medical product that has been scientifically proven to be safe and effective. Additionally, unregulated homeopathic products may contain harmful ingredients or may be improperly manufactured or contaminated such that they may cause serious injury. The FDA’s concern over alleged “homeopathic” drugs is increased when it comes to injectable drug products because they are injected directly into the body, bypassing some of the body’s key natural defenses against potentially life-threatening toxins and dangerous organisms.
The FDA’s most recent round of warning letters were directed to four companies that were selling injectable “homeopathic” drugs: Hervert Pharmaceuticals, LLC; MediNatura, Inc.; 8046255 Canada, Inc. (d.b.a. Viatrexx); and World Health Advanced Technologies, Ltc. The FDA advised that these companies violated federal law by selling drugs that are not generally recognized as safe and effective for their labeled use. For example, according to the Warning Letter to World Health Advanced Technologies, Ltd., the company marketed a drug for the treatment of tuberculosis, lung cancer, and hepatitis B and C; however, that drug has not been scientifically recognized as a safe or effective treatment for those conditions. Additionally, the FDA noted that many of the drug products sold by these companies were labeled as containing potentially toxic ingredients, such as nux vomica (contains strychnine), belladonna (deadly nightshade), mercurius solubilis (mercury), and plumbum aceticum (lead). These potentially toxic ingredients pose a risk of serious harm if injected.
Because homeopathic drugs are not reviewed for safety and effectiveness, the FDA recommends that you speak with your healthcare professional about safe and effective treatments. For more information on this latest round of warning letters, click here.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a homeopathic drug product, the Cincinnati dangerous drug attorneys at Burg Simpson can help. Burg Simpson has successfully represented thousands of individuals who suffered injuries due to defective drugs. We know what it takes to hold pharmaceutical companies responsible for their actions and secure just compensation for our clients. Call Burg Simpson’s product liability attorneys in Cincinnati today at 513-852-5600 or fill out our free case evaluation form now to discuss your case with us.