Dangerous Supplements & Vitamins – Risks to Be Aware Of
Many of us take vitamins and supplements on a regular basis, while health and wellness stores and websites alike make bold claims about what these products can do. Though the chance to improve your health or treat a condition while avoiding the high cost of prescription medications is appealing to consumers, it is important to be cautious. Misleading claims, defective drugs, and otherwise dangerous supplements are unfortunately common, and the risks are often greater than what these products can actually do.
Five Potential Dangers With Vitamins & Supplements
People tend to assume that taking vitamins and supplements provides a better and more ‘natural’ way of maintaining their health or treating certain conditions. Consumer Reports states while more than half of the population regularly relies on these types of remedies, they may not be as helpful or as safe as they appear. More than 6,300 adverse reactions to vitamins and supplements are reported each year, resulting in more than 2,000 hospitalizations and over 100 deaths. The following are five potential dangers you need to be aware of:
- Drug interactions: Some herbal remedies can be better categorized as pharmaceuticals rather than supplement, and it is important to consider how they could interact with other medications you are taking.
- Overdose risks: While some product manufacturers and health gurus recommend taking megadoses of vitamins or supplements, it could put you at risk of an overdose. Even taking modest amounts over the recommended daily allowance can have significant impacts on your overall health.
- Lack of warning labels: The S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require warning labels on vitamins and supplements, but this does not mean there are not potentially dangerous side effects you could face.
- Claims are not proven: If you read the small print on most vitamin and supplement containers, you will generally see disclaimers stating that claims are not proven nor are results guaranteed.
- Defective supplements: Just because many supplements claim to be organic or derived from plant sources, they can still be artificially manufactured in a lab and subject to manufacturer defects, making for dangerous supplements.
For your own safety, do not switch from your regular medications to a vitamin or supplement without checking with your medical providers first, and always ask your doctor about any possible drug interactions that could occur. Be careful of buying products online, and check with the FDA’s MedWatch List to ensure no warnings or recalls have been issued.
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Reach Out For Help
You trust doctors and self-proclaimed health and wellness authorities to guide you in the actions you need to protect and improve your wellbeing. Unfortunately, mistakes, errors, and product manufacturing issues can easily result in dangerous supplements being sold. In these situations, reach out and contact Anastopoulo Law Firm. We can arrange a consultation with our South Carolina personal injury attorney to discuss any compensation you may be entitled to receive. We serve clients in Charleston and throughout the Lowcountry and Upstate areas, so call or contact us online today.
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