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FDA: Intravenous skin whitener potentially deadly
Use of the intravenous skin whitener glutathione (Glutathione IV) may be gaining popularity but it may also be inviting potentially serious harm, health officials said Thursday. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cited reports of adverse drug reactions from the use of Glutathione IV, ranging from skin rashes to the deadly Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. "The alarming increase in the unapproved use of glutathione administered intravenously [direct into the veins] as a skin-whitening agent at very high doses is unsafe and may result in serious consequences to the health of users," FDA head Suzette Lazo said in FDA Advisory 2011-004. She said the adverse drug reactions are:
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis;
- Derangement in the thyroid function;
- Suspected kidney dysfunction potentially resulting in kidney failure; and
- Severe abdominal pain in a patient receiving twice-weekly glutathione administered intravenously.
- Introduction of harmful microorganisms that can result in serious infections including potential fatal sepsis (or inflammation of the whole body);
- Injection of air can lead to embolism, which is also potentially fatal;
- Unsafe use of needles (recycling, sharing) can result in the transmission of Hepatitis B and even HIV; and
- Counterfeiting of glutathione has been reported and may lead ot use of non-sterile preparations that can lead to serious infections.
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