On June 3, 2012, I blogged that the FDA had issued a warning regarding Reumofan Plus, a "natural dietary supplement" marketed for treating arthritis, muscle pain, osteoporosis, bone cancer, and other serious conditions. The blog received several comments on both sides of the issue. You can read the blog and comments here.
On August 21, 2012, the FDA issued an updated warning which states the following: "FDA is issuing an updated alert that Reumofan Plus and Reumofan Plus Premium contain undeclared active ingredients found in prescription drugs that should be used only under the supervision of a health care professional. Since June 1, 2012, when FDA first warned the public about the dangers of these supplements, the agency has received reports of fatalities, stroke, severe bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, dizziness, insomnia, high blood sugar levels and problems with liver and kidney functions, as well as corticosteroid withdrawal syndrome. Because of the possible risks, consumers should not buy or start using these products." Read the full warning from the FDA.
Related Articles:
- The Facts of Dietary Supplements
- The Facts of NSAIDs
- The Facts of Methocarbamol
- The Facts of Corticosteroids
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In my opinion there are two reasons why the FDA is negative on Reumofan . It is advertised as a Natural Supplement which if it does include the ingredients they list this is true.
Second the FDA is not making any profit on this and there are hundreds of thousands of people on this supplement. Why? BECAUSE IT WORKS. I have been on every medication there is for arthritis and fibromialaga and nothing worked. Then I found Reumofan and for the first time in ten years I am able to move around pain free with NO side affects.
Sorry to disagree with your findings. The harmful ingredients they listed
diciofenac sodium is in FDA approved Voltaren.
Methocrbanol is in the FDA approve Robaxin.
So people this is not a natural supplement but it contains ingredients that are in approved FDA medications.
For Jane:
Dexamethasone listed as the other ingredient is a potent corticosteroid with serious side effects and you likely cannot stop it without serious withdrawal and possibly death. You should go to a doctor immediately and discuss with him how to get off this medication. Whether you continue it or stop it, you are likely to have serious side effects from having been on it.
To K McDonald
In response to your comments I googled your drug in question and the good out weighs the bad ten fold. There are worse side effects in the prescription drugs I was given for arthritis by the dozens of Dr.’s I went to over my 10 years of searching for relief from my unbearable pain. Methotrexate is just one example. When your pain is so bad that you pray every night for GOD to take you then maybe you would understand my strong feeling about Reumofan. I did not experience one side effect only relief.
Granted everyone is different and I certainly can’t speak for them but for me finding this was a Blessing.
The FDA should analyze the ingredients in Reumofan and develop a drug they could make a profit on. Then there would not be a warning against it.
I
I tried Reumofan and took it for only 3 days. I did get some relief immediately from severe pain in my left leg but when I read the warning about the undisclosed drugs in the formula, I became alarmed. I already have multiple problems, like diastolic heart failure, diabetes, POTS, severe sleep apnea, thyroidites and degenerative bone disease. My pain levels are always high and I have used all natural supplements in addition to prescribed medicaitons. It is too dangerous for me to take anything with corticosteroids in them and even freedom from severe pain is not a good enough reason to jeopardiize my life. I will look for another option.
I have gout and atheritis for about 7 years both of my legs were hurting I took reumofan plus and on the second day I was walking with no pain I know it worked but its scary what the docs are saying so I stoped taking it don’t know who to beleave just goin to wait and c if the docs in the USA make a medicine that does the same thing
I took Reumafan Plus for severe arthritis for more than a year. I got instant relief and I can say I had no side effects from using this product, (I’ve also had no withdrawal from the drug other than the fact that I’m right back where I started before taking it). I only took it once a day, not as directed. A business colleague of my husband’s told me about it and he or my husband would bring it back from their business trips in Mexico City and so you can imagine, I was so pleased to see that I could actually finally buy it in the US. I recently found out about the FDA warning from my housekeeper and I stopped using it and I am back to having severe arthritis pain. I’m very much hoping that further testing will be done, as it really worked well and allowed me to live like a normal human being for a change.
Jane, The point isn’t really whether the drugs are already in approved medications it is the fact that drugs can have harmful and potentially fatal interactions with other medications that you may be taking. There are also medications that are contraindicated in patients with certain diseases or metabolic disorders. The reason medications are prescribed is for your safety. Your doctors are trained to take these potential interactions into consideration. At the very least it would be wise to consult with your physician and let them know you are taking this so they can advise you accordingly.
To Brett,
I went to my doctor and showed him the article on reumofan. He asked me if I had any side effects which I do not. He did a complete blood workup and everything is perfect. So his response was if it works continue using it, I found an effective drug that works for my inflammation so the FDA could warn people all they want. What others choose to do is their own business. As for me Reumofan is my drug of choice,
If anyone continues to take this, please follow up with your Dr and show them the various warnings and list of ingredients (disclosed and undisclosed). Lucky you if you’re not having any side effects. It worked for me for the two months that I took it. Toward the end of the 2nd month, my face swelled up to where I was unrecognized. The warnings were coming out about the undisclosed ingredients and I weaned myself off over several days and the face swelling did go away. However, at almost a year later, my thyroid is finally back where it should be as it threw that out of whack along with every other thing on the blood work list, which never had happened in the past. I have had numerous things checked out, all turning out negative but only after going through countless issues. Apparently by the time certain things were checked out, it had finally gotten out of my system. At 58, I am going in for a hip replacement in the next few weeks. Only likely cause is the dexamethasone. I learned my lesson. Hope you don’t have to learn the hard way…
I had severe joint pain and stiffness from arthritis. This was my miracle pill! It worked quickly but I noticed how severe my pain would be if I stopped taking it. So I never stopped for two years because it was supposed to be all natural. I have always been a healthy person, but I ended up in the hospital THREE times for severe kidney issues and I could have died! The doctor was very confused as to what was causing this. I’ve had some bad issues with my muscles (with the kidney issues I had very low potassium because my body couldn’t absorb it). I also gained 70 lbs in two years? I have never been so overweight. Well, now that I weaned myself off ( just found out about this a month ago!), I have lost 13 lbs so far. I have no doubt that this product has damaged my kidney function. I’m very concerned and I regret that something that worked so well and gave me hope has messed up my body like this. I am only 42 yrs old.
I would rather die than try to live in pain every day. There is no
prescription drug out there that is good for you or that even gives
enough relief to make life liveable for me. I choose to continue
Reumofan plus! Does anyone know where I can re order it?
Thank you in advance.
Sab
I was taking Reumofan never felt better. Wish I could get my hand on more. Anyone know where I can get it. I have bad hip and very bad knee. Once I started taking Reumofan all my pain went away and I was very mobile. I have taken many other drugs prescribe to me nothing worked like Reumofan, and I am sure they all cant be too good for you either.
I took Reumofan and never felt better. Dose anyone know where I can get some?? I have taken so many other meds. nothing worked, and I am sure they are not so good for you either.