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  1. Medication Health Fraud

Tainted Arthritis | Pain Products

FDA is notifying consumers of certain products promoted for arthritis and pain management that have been found to contain hidden ingredients and may pose a significant health risk. The public notifications listed below include those products FDA testing found to contain active drug ingredients not listed on the product labels, including some with ingredients found in prescription drugs. These products may cause potentially serious side effects and may interact with medications or dietary supplements a consumer is taking. Consumers should use caution when considering purchasing these types of products. 

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. FDA cannot test all products on the market that contain potentially harmful hidden ingredients. Enforcement actions and consumer advisories for tainted products only cover a small fraction of the tainted over-the-counter products on the market.

FDA encourages consumers and health care professionals to report any adverse events to the agency’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program so the agency can take action to protect the public from any unsafe products. FDA is committed to protecting consumers from the risks of buying medicines online and helping them be more aware of how to buy online safely.

The list below includes only a small fraction of the potentially dangerous products marketed to consumers online and in stores. Even if a product is not included in this list, consumers should exercise caution before using these types of arthritis and pain management products.

Public Notifications

Date Public Notification
2/29/2024 QUICK Rheumatism Capsule, Tiger Wang Biaod contains hidden drug ingredient
2/29/2024 SNAKE BONES Anti-Rheumatic Capsules contains hidden drug ingredient
11/17/2023 Himalayan Pain Relief Tea contains hidden drug ingredients
11/17/2023 Tepee Herbal Tea contains hidden drug ingredient
11/17/2023 Notoginseng Formula Special Gout Granule contains hidden drug ingredients
9/29/2023 Kuka Flex Forte contains hidden drug ingredient
9/29/2023 Reumo Flex contains hidden drug ingredient
08/31/2023 Tapee Tea contains hidden drug ingredients
05/08/2023 Fast-Act Rheuma Capsule contains hidden drug ingredients
05/08/2023 New Fast-Act Rheumatism Capsule contains hidden drug ingredient
05/08/2023 UA-Block contains hidden drug ingredient
04/13/2023 AK Forte contains hidden drug ingredients
04/20/2022 Artri King contains hidden drug ingredients
04/20/2022 Ortiga Mas Ajo Rey contains hidden drug ingredient
04/20/2022 Ortiga Mas Ajo Rey Extra Forte contains hidden drug ingredients
01/07/2022 Tawon Liar contains hidden drug ingredient
01/05/2022 Artri Ajo King contains hidden drug ingredient
02/05/2020 RMFLEX contains hidden drug ingredient
10/30/2017 Linsen Double Caulis Plus (靈仙双藤素) Contains Hidden Drug Ingredient
06/05/2015 Pyrola Advanced Joint Formula contains hidden drug ingredients
05/04/2015 Saurean Fong Sep Lin contains hidden drug ingredients
05/04/2015 Jianbu Huqian Wan contains hidden drug ingredients
05/04/2015 Ginseng She Lian Wan contains hidden drug ingredients
05/04/2015 Asihuri Plus Forte contains hidden drug ingredients
02/13/2014 Arth-Q Contains Hidden Drug Ingredient
01/15/2014 Pro ArthMax Contains Several Hidden Drug Ingredients
08/22/2013 Ortiga Contains Hidden Drug Ingredient
 
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