Buyer Beware: Unproven Supplements and Medications without a Prescription Can be Dangerous – by Amanda Winans, PharmD

We’ve all seen advertisements on TV and social media hyping up products that claim to produce incredible results.

It might be a pill, gummy, nasal spray, or tea that claims to improve mood, immune response, digestion, or sleep. A powder that claims to support muscle gain. Or an injection, patch, or infusion that claims to help with pain, weight loss, or have anti-aging benefits.

We work hard for our money, and we want to make sure any amount that we spend on our health is worth it. We also want to be sure that anything we put in our body is safe. On top of that, our children and teens are spending more time than ever online – and they’re seeing these ads constantly.

Unfortunately, there are bad actors out there who care more about making a profit than supplying us with safe products. Your healthcare provider and pharmacist are your trusted partners in what treatments, therapies, or prescriptions might be best for your personal wellness. Not only are they your community members who know your health history, they are also trained to recognize what’s medically-sound and what isn’t.

Let’s talk about alternative therapies and what you need to know before you make any online purchases.

FDA Approval and Reading the Label

Among its many duties, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating drugs, medical devices, and biological products, like vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and therapeutic proteins like insulin. Before a new drug or vaccine is developed, its manufacturer must provide data to prove it is safe, effective, and meets all federal standards. The FDA carefully reviews and examines this extensive testing before deciding whether a product can be used or sold for its intended use. Part of this review includes determining that the benefits offered by the product outweigh the risks it could pose.

If a product claims to cure a disease or alleviate a medical issue, but it has not been FDA approved, that is a serious red flag. The product could be illegal, and since it’s safety hasn’t been verified through FDA review, it could cause you harm, contain materials not listed on the label, or be ineffective. The FDA works to get such products off the market, but with so many online shops in operation, this is a massive undertaking and many listings slip through the cracks.

The FDA does not regulate vitamins and dietary supplements at the same level of scrutiny that they do for prescription and over the counter drugs. There is no pre-market approval process for these products. Companies are required by law to list everything that’s in a supplement on its label. They are also not permitted to make any false claims about what it might do. The FDA will step in if there is suspicion that these laws may have been broken.

You might see a product use wording, like “supports bone health” or “assists cognitive ability” rather than “prevents osteoporosis” or “treats dementia.” Supplements cannot claim to cure or provide protection against a medical condition. It’s also why you will likely see phrasing on vitamin or supplement packaging that says something to the effect of “claims have not been evaluated by the FDA.” These are often legal maneuvers by companies to ensure their products follow the law.

You should be especially cautious if a label says “for research only” or “not for human consumption.” Some companies use these phrases to sell unapproved experimental drugs.

The Rise of Weight Loss Medications

The use of GLP-1s like semaglutide and tirzepatide to combat obesity have risen in popularity dramatically since they were first approved by the FDA for that purpose earlier this decade.

Due to this popularity and the high price tag associated with these medications, there are unfortunately copycats out there, trying to profit off people looking for support while they change their eating habits.

The FDA is aware of counterfeit or unapproved GLP-1s that can pose serious risks to a patient’s safety. These could contain wrong ingredients, harmful ingredients, or too much or too little active ingredient. They might also be shipped without adequate ice packs. GLPs must be kept refrigerated to be safe to use.

The safest way to explore whether GLP-1s might be right for you is to speak with your primary care practitioner. You and your healthcare provider can have a conversation about the drug, its potential benefits and costs, and proper procurement and usage. Your provider can then be a partner to you while you are using the drug to answer any questions you might have and make adjustments to your prescription as needed.

Intended Use and Dosing Schedules Are Important

For your safety, a medication or supplement should only be used for its intended purpose and the instructions listed on the bottle or label should be followed closely. This will help ensure the product fulfills its purpose without causing potentially dangerous side effects.

It is not always safe to take supplements along with prescription medications. Different medications might also not be advisable to take together. This is why it is so important to inform your healthcare provider of everything you take before they prescribe you anything.

When you pick up a prescription from a pharmacy, you can always choose to have a consultation with a pharmacist if your prescription is new or if you have any questions at all about proper usage. Your pharmacist is ready to talk with you about any concerns you might have!

Let’s Talk About It

There is nothing wrong with seeking out natural products and home remedies when appropriate, but for many illnesses there is no replacement for medicine backed by clinical review and science.

Unfortunately, there is no “miracle cure,” to make us all feel younger and stronger. Wellness can look different for each of us – and it can take time, dedication, and hard work.

The products that are sometimes marketed online that claim to help solve a wide range of issues might not deliver what they promise. There’s an old adage: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

If you’re a parent or guardian to teenagers who may be making purchases online, talk to them about safety. The young people in our lives might be particularly vulnerable to ads that claim to provide help with things they might be self-conscious about. This video from PBS provides a more comprehensive overview of the dangers associated with social media influencers and the online availability of GLP-1s and other supplements.

Before you purchase a new product for your health, talk to a healthcare provider. We can help you decide whether it’s the real deal or just snake oil.

About the Author
Amanda Winans, PharmD, is the Supervisor of Ambulatory Clinical Pharmacy Services at Bassett Medical Center. She earned her doctorate at Albany College of Pharmacy and completed her post-graduate training at Bassett Medical Center. Dr. Winans has over 18 years of experience in the Pharmacy field, with the majority serving patients who are at risk of adverse events related to high-risk medication use, such as blood thinners and pain medications.