Medication Health Fraud for Specific Diseases and Conditions
- Anti-aging Medication Health Fraud
- Autism Medication Health Fraud
- Bodybuilding/Sports Performance Medication Health Fraud
- Cancer Medication Health Fraud
- Dermatology/Skin Condition Medication Health Fraud
- Diabetes Medication Health Fraud
- Infectious Disease Medication Health Fraud for Flu, Cough, and Cold
- Pain Reduction/Arthritis Medication Health Fraud
- Sexual Enhancement Medication Health Fraud
- Sleep Aid Medication Health Fraud
- Weight-Loss Medication Health Fraud
FDA has identified condition-specific medication health fraud scams that can pose significant risks to consumers. Understanding these risks can help you make informed health care decisions, for yourself and for your family.
Some of these scams include:
Anti-aging Medication Health Fraud
No medication has been proven to slow or reverse the aging process.
Autism Medication Health Fraud
Unproven drug products for sale that claim to cure or treat autism are misleading and deceptive. They can lead to serious health problems while offering false hope for a condition that currently has no cure.
Bodybuilding/Sports Performance Medication Health Fraud
Certain dietary supplements marketed as enhancing athletic performance may contain anabolic steroids or steroid-like substances, posing serious health risks. Use of these products may result in liver failure, infertility, or testicular shrinkage.
- FDA Warns of Use of Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) Among Teens, Young Adults
- Teens and Steroids: A Dangerous Combo
- Caution: Bodybuilding Products Can Be Risky
- DMAA in Products Marketed as Dietary Supplements
- List of Tainted Body Building Products
Cancer Medication Health Fraud
Unproven medications marketed to cure cancer can be dangerous, leading to delays in appropriate medical treatment and harmful consequences.
Dermatology/Skin Condition Medication Health Fraud
Unproven products marketed for removing moles, skin lesions or other skin conditions and lightening the skin, can cause irritation, injuries, scarring, and other serious side effects. These products may not approved by FDA and may contain harmful ingredients.
- Products Marketed for Removing Moles and Other Skin Lesions Can Cause Injuries, Scarring
- Potentially harmful over-the-counter skin lightening products
- Health Education Materials & PSA Videos in over 13 languages
- Injectable Skin Lightening and Skin Bleaching Products May Be Unsafe
- Skin Products Containing Mercury and/or Hydroquinone
- Do Not Use: Black Salve is Dangerous and Called by Many Names
- Don’t Use Products Marketed to Treat Molluscum, a Common Skin Condition
Diabetes Medication Health Fraud
Medication products marketed with unproven, false, or misleading claims about the products' ability to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent diseases or conditions may cause harm. Use of unproven medication products can lead to the delay or discontinuation of effective treatments. Improper disease management can increase the risk of serious health complications.
- Beware of Illegally Marketed Diabetes Treatments
- FDA and FTC Send Warning Letters to 10 Companies for Illegally Selling Dietary Supplements Claiming to Treat Diabetes
Infectious Disease Medication Health Fraud for Flu, Cough, and Cold
Products claiming to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent infectious diseases may not be proven safe or effective.
- Protect Your Family from Fraudulent Flu Products
- Should You Give Kids Medicine for Coughs and Colds?
- List of Fraudulent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Products
- Fraudulent Coronavirus Tests, Vaccines and Treatments
- Illegally Sold Mpox Products
Pain Reduction/Arthritis Medication Health Fraud
Use of unproven medication products marketed for pain relief may contain hidden drug or other ingredients that can have harmful effects. FDA has received reports of liver toxicity and death after use of certain products.
- FDA warns consumers not to purchase or use Artri and Ortiga products, which may contain hidden drug ingredients
- Tianeptine Products Linked to Serious Harm, Overdoses, Death
- Reumofan Plus and Reumofan Plus Premium
- List of Tainted Arthritis/Pain Products
Sexual Enhancement Medication Health Fraud
Unproven medication products marketed for sexual enhancement may contain hidden drug ingredients that can interact with prescription drugs and lower blood pressure to dangerous levels.
- Weight Loss, Male Enhancement and Other Products Sold Online or in Stores May Be Dangerous
- List of Tainted Sexual Enhancement Products
- 'All Natural' Alternatives for Erectile Dysfunction: A Risky Proposition
Sleep Aid Medication Health Fraud
Some products marketed as dietary supplements for sleep aid have been found to contain hidden drug ingredients that can impair a person's ability to drive or perform other activities.
Weight-Loss Medication Health Fraud
Weight loss products marketed as "All natural" may contain hidden drug ingredients removed from the market for safety reasons. Some hidden drug ingredients can substantially increase blood pressure and heart rate which can be dangerous for those with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, or stroke.
- DMAA in Products Marketed as Dietary Supplements
- Weight Loss, Male Enhancement and Other Products Sold Online or in Stores May Be Dangerous
- List of Tainted Weight Loss Products
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