DOH, FDA remind public to be wary of supplements, products sold online

 

(Screengrabbed from PinaSigla program aired via DZMM)

By Jimmyley Guzman 

QUEZON CITY (PIA) — The Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reminded the public to be wary of supplements or other products that are being sold online.

During DOH’s ‘PinaSigla’ program, Dr. John Vincent U. Magalong, Internal Medicine Specialist from the DOH-Valenzuela Medical Center, shared some possible side effects of products sold online that are not approved by FDA. 

“So, maaaring magkaroon ng mga epekto kagaya ng pagsakit ng tiyan, pagtatae na ayaw natin … kasi yung reaction sa tiyan lalo pag hindi ka po hiyang,” explained Magalong. 

Magalong also explained that off-label products are products that are not approved by doctors. 

“So, off-label, ibig sabihin ito ay indikasyon na hindi aprubado ng doktor. [So], delikado ito kasi halimbawa yung Tirzepatide, ito ay maaaring mag cause, yung sa mga osteoporosis natin. Minsan kung nagkaroon ka ng bukol dati sa thyroid mo, pwede (siyang) maging cancer. Tapos mas madalas yung side effect. Nandyan yung pagsakit natin ng tiyan, pagsusuka, minsan nagtatae sila,” he explained further. 

Tirzepatide is a medication designed to assist in weight management.

Dr. Magalong also noted the need to consult first with doctors before taking any medicine or supplement, and to ensure that medicines or supplements are also registered with the FDA. 

FDA Director General Atty. Paolo Teston also explained that products not evaluated by experts and not registered in the bureau may cause adverse reactions or effects.

“Kung ang produkto po na ‘yan ay hindi po rehistrado sa FDA, ang ibig sabihin po noon ay hindi po (siya) dumaan sa masusing pagsusuri ng ating mga scientists, evaluators sa FDA. Hindi po nakakasiguro yung consumer kung ito po ay safe sa balat, kung saan man po gagamitin (siya). Therefore, malaki po ang risk na magkakaroon po ng adverse reaction po dun sa produkto,” said Atty. Teston.

Likewise, DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa said that selling unregistered food, medicine, cosmetics, and medical devices is prohibited by law.

“So, pwede talagang maapektuhan ang safety mo pagka hindi talaga approved by FDA. Kahit supplement yan or herbal yan, mag ingat din tayo kasi sometimes may iniinom kang gamot that it can interact with,” said the health chief.

Meanwhile, Teston encourages the public to visit the FDA website www.fda.gov.ph to check on products if verified by the FDA before buying or consuming any product. (JEG/PIA-NCR)