The FDA has issued an advisory notification about Pro ArthMax. The notice is to warn consumers that the product has been found to contain several hidden drugs that potentially may have dangerous effects on users.
Pro ArthMax was a dietary supplement sold to combat joint, muscle and arthritic pain.
“Dietary supplements are a category of products that have been receiving renewed scrutiny from the FDA,” commented Daniel Nigh, a Stryker hip recall attorney with the Levin, Papantonio law firm who practices in the areas of medical device failure litigation, product liability, and personal injury. “Unfortunately, as we have seen with metal-on-metal hip implants, a product can be available to the public for some time before it is disclosed that there are risks associated with the product.”
In its laboratory analysis of Pro ArthMax, the FDA claims to have found the following active ingredients in the dietary supplement: diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, idomethacin, nefopam, and chlorzoxazone.
Many of these drugs are available in the U.S., with the exception of nefopam. However, the failure to disclose the presence of the drugs in the dietary supplement can cause users to encounter unanticipatable interactions with other drugs. Nefopam is not available in the United States and is not approved by the FDA as it has not been proven to be safe. Potential side effects to nefopam include rapid heart rate, sweating, dizziness, confusion, hallucinations and seizures.
Individuals are advised to throw away any Pro ArthMax they have and consult a physician immediately if they have experienced any negative side effects which may include “unusually dark stools or urine, stomach pain, increased bruising, or other signs of bleeding, confusion, sedation, hallucinations, and seizures.”
Joshua is a writer and researcher with Ring of Fire. You can follow him on Twitter @Joshual33.