Dietary supplements, which are believed to bestow good health, sometimes prove to be fake and can affect our health and well being. An updated alert has been issued by the FDA regarding dietary supplements - Reumofan Plus and Reumofan Plus Premium, as they have been found to contain hidden drug ingredients that can cause serious and potentially fatal side effects.
Reumofan Plus and Reumofan Plus Premium are marketed as "natural" dietary supplements for treatment of arthritis, muscle pain, osteoporosis (the thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density), bone cancer and other conditions.
An analysis of Reumofan Plus and Reumofan Plus Premium has revealed the presence of active ingredients found in prescription drugs that should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional.
Reumofan Plus has been found to contain diclofenac sodium, a prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, methocarbamol, a prescription muscle relaxant, and dexamethasone, a corticosteroid. Reumofan Plus Premium has been found to diclofenac sodium and methocarbamol.
The first alert by the FDA warning the public of the dangers of the two dietary supplements was issued in June of this year. Since then, there have been several reports of fatalities, stroke, severe bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract (including the esophagus, stomach and intestines), dizziness, insomnia (difficulty sleeping), high blood sugar levels and problems with liver and kidney functions, as well as corticosteroid withdrawal syndrome.
It is not advisable to stop taking the Reumofan products without medical guidance, warns the FDA, because of the presence of a corticosteroid, and sudden discontinuation could cause withdrawal syndrome and life-threatening suppression of the adrenal glands.
The Reumofan dietary supplements are manufactured in Mexico by Riger Naturals and sold widely on the Internet, as well as at flea markets and some retail outlets. The Mexican Ministry of Health has ordered Riger Naturals to recall the products.
by RTT Staff Writer
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