Earlier this week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to consumers about homeopathic teething tablets and gels. Noting they may pose a risk to infants and children, the FDA is asking parents to stop using these products and dispose of any in their possession.
Homeopathic teething tablets and gels are distributed by CVS, Hyland’s, and possibly others, and are sold in retail stores and online.
While they didn’t give specifics about complaints or concerns they may have, they are asking consumers to seek medical care immediately if their child experiences seizures, difficulty breathing, lethargy, excessive sleepiness, muscle weakness, skin flushing, constipation, difficulty urinating, or agitation after using homeopathic teething tablets or gels.
“Teething can be managed without a prescription or over-the-counter remedies,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “We recommend parents and caregivers not give homeopathic teething tablets and gels to children and seek advice from their health care professional for safe alternatives.”
The FDA is analyzing adverse events reported to the agency regarding homeopathic teething tablets and gels, including seizures in infants and children who were given these products, since a 2010 safety alert about homeopathic teething tablets. The FDA is currently investigating this issue, including testing product samples. The agency will continue to communicate with the public as more information is available.
Homeopathic teething tablets and gels have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA for safety or efficacy. The agency is also not aware of any proven health benefit of the products, which are labeled to relieve teething symptoms in children.
As a homeopathic doctor I can tell you with all certainty that many products are using the term ‘homeopathic’ illegally and inappropriately to market them as a ‘safer’ option.
ANY product that can cause serious side effects including seizures are NOT homeopathic.
The real big problem with this story – mothers will have wrong info and as a result may avoid the products that are actually safe (homeopathic) and end up using more dangerous ones (drugs). Only consult a homeopathic doctor for homeopathic products, and a medical doctor for drugs.
By the way, the FDA was started by a homeopathic doctor. Of course they have been proven effective. The drug mafia got greedy and formed to destroy the competition. (Look up how the AMA formed and why)