U.S. flag An official website of the United States government

On Oct. 1, 2024, the FDA began implementing a reorganization impacting many parts of the agency. We are in the process of updating FDA.gov content to reflect these changes.

  1. Home
  2. Drugs
  3. Resources | Drugs
  4. Information for Consumers and Patients | Drugs
  5. Buying & Using Medicine Safely
  6. Medication Health Fraud
  7. Public Notification: Ginseng She Lian Wan contains hidden drug ingredients
  1. Medication Health Fraud

Public Notification: Ginseng She Lian Wan contains hidden drug ingredients

[5-4-2015] The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising consumers not to purchase or use Ginseng She Lian Wan, a product promoted for joint pain, arthritis, and gout. This product was identified by FDA during an examination of international mail shipments.Image of Ginseng She Lian Wan 

FDA laboratory analysis confirmed that Ginseng She Lian Wan contains dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, and chlorpheniramine.

Consumers taking Ginseng She Lian Wan are urged to immediately consult with their health care provider to safely discontinue use of this product. The risks of withdrawal from corticosteroids should be assessed by a health care professional. Only licensed health care professionals can evaluate patients for the risk, or confirm the existence, of adrenal suppression. To date, FDA is not aware of any reports of adverse events related to this product.

  • Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid commonly used to treat inflammatory conditions. Consumers are advised that corticosteroid use can impair a person’s ability to fight infections, cause high blood sugar levels, muscle injuries and psychiatric problems. When corticosteroids are taken for a prolonged period, or at high doses, they can suppress the adrenal gland and cause withdrawal symptoms with abrupt discontinuation.             
  • Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine generally used for allergies. Antihistamines may cause drowsiness and affect mental alertness.

In addition, these undeclared ingredients in Ginseng She Lian Wan may cause serious side effects when combined with other medications.

Health care professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:

Note: This notification is to inform the public of a growing trend of dietary supplements or conventional foods with hidden drugs and chemicals. These products are typically promoted for sexual enhancement, weight loss, and body building and are often represented as being “all natural.” FDA is unable to test and identify all products marketed as dietary supplements that have potentially harmful hidden ingredients. Consumers should exercise caution before purchasing any product in the above categories. 

For more information:

 

Resources For You

Back to Top