Over 30 people across four states have been poisoned by bacterial toxins after getting intravenous (IV) drips at wellness clinics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.
The people had received IV drips containing glutathione, which is sold—without evidence—for purposes like detoxification, immune support, increased energy, and skin brightening. Glutathione is an antioxidant that’s found naturally in the body. It has been studied as a potential treatment for various ailments, but so far there is little to no evidence-backed use for the tripeptide; there are no FDA-approved glutathione products in the US.
Nevertheless, it’s commonly used as a supplement and promoted as having various benefits. It’s most often used in supplement pills, taken by mouth. But popular wellness clinics offering IV drips of vitamins and other supplements have also been offering glutathione. According to the CDC and FDA, the problem is that specialty drug makers, called compounding pharmacies, are making these IV drips using glutathione powders that are graded for dietary supplements taken orally. This grading is critically different from that of purified products graded for use in sterile injectable drugs.
In an announcement late last month, the FDA said it had learned that at least two compounding pharmacies had been doing this and that people were getting sick. At the time, the FDA had gotten reports of at least 30 sickened people.
Illnesses
The IV glutathione products involved appeared to be made from glutathione provided by Medisca Inc., headquartered in Plattsburgh, New York. “The glutathione was labeled as dietary supplement grade, which is not an appropriate ingredient to make injectable drugs,” the FDA said. Medisca told the FDA that it had informed its pharmacy customers not to use the product for injectable drugs.
To date, three compounding pharmacies, all in Texas, have recalled glutathione products sold as injectable liquids: Victory Medical Center Pharmacy, Optimal Balance Pharmacy, and Centric Compounding. The recall for Centric Compounding was posted over the weekend and includes products called Myer’s Cocktail and Tri-Immune Boost.
The Mediscal glutathione was found to have elevated bacterial endotoxins. Injected use of the glutathione has led to reports of illnesses consistent with endotoxin exposure. The symptoms include: fever, chills, severe headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), changes in blood pressure, body aches, pain, malaise, symptoms resembling an allergic reaction, and signs of shock and sepsis-like symptoms.
An alert from the CDC said the illness reports have been from people in Texas, Washington, Florida, and New York. At least three people who received IV glutathione have been hospitalized. One became critically ill and required intensive care, including treatment for shock and abnormal blood clotting, the CDC said.
In its latest update, the FDA said it has continued to receive reports of illness, and the CDC similarly suggested that more cases will be reported as the investigation continues.
The FDA also noted that this is not the first time glutathione graded for dietary supplements has made its way into IVs and sickened people. The regulator sent out a similar warning about glutathione IVs in 2019, also after reports of endotoxin poisonings. In that case, at least two people were hospitalized.
