Followers of this blog can see that dietary supplements get recalled on a fairly regular basis. This is despite the fact that supplements aren’t required to go through the same rigorous approval process that medications must be put through before arriving on the market. Typically, a dietary supplement will be privy to a recall alert because it contains a drug substance or makes claims on its labels that have not been proven. These things could bring the product into the realm of an unapproved drug.
Now, the Food and Drug Administration is trying to get the word out about one particular claim that has them deeply concerned. Their targets are any dietary supplements that make the claim they can be used for some type of concussion treatment. This could be an item touting its supposed ability to prevent concussions, to treat them once they occur, or to cure them completely. Some may claim to offer a quicker recovery rate than if they weren’t to be used.
This is problematic for the consumer who buys into the claims, as it could cause them to head back into physical activity before their body is ready. Subsequent injuries can then prove to be far more deleterious than they otherwise would, as there won’t be a medical professional involved in the decision. The other large worry is that an individual will simply rely on the supplement without attaining the actual treatment that could cause them to truly get past the injury.
If more than one concussion occurs, the damage that can accrue in an individual’s brain might be exacerbated dramatically, and if the affected person continues to rely on the claims of an unproven substance, then you could easily picture the type of danger they might find themselves in. Swelling of the brain is a possibility, and they might experience the type of longterm brain damage that stays with them for the rest of their life. A fatality is also a distinct possibility.
The first instance of the inappropriate marketing of dietary supplements for this concussion purpose reportedly involved a company that was specifically targeting military veterans with its supposed ability to aid recovery from traumatic brain injuries. Then, in 2012, the FDA sent warning letters to two companies informing them of a misbranding situation and asking for an immediate correction. Last month, the makers of a product called Anatabloc received a similar letter from the agency.
A consumer health update has been issued by the FDA in a bid to get consumers to understand this threat and how dangerous misunderstandings about such products can be. Please make sure if you or your child suffer a concussion that you seek prompt medical assistance from a reputed doctor so that any potential dangers might be averted.