(RxWiki News) Sodium chlorite products are not as safe as they are advertised to be, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The FDA is urging consumers to stop using these products immediately. The agency said it has received several reports of people becoming sick after using these products.
These potentially unsafe products can be found under various names:
- Miracle Mineral Solution or Master Mineral Solution
- Miracle Mineral Supplement
- MMS
- Chlorine Dioxide (CD) Protocol
- Water Purification Solution (WPS)
If you are not sure about a product, another name to look for is sodium chlorite.
The concern? According to the FDA, when these products are mixed according to their package directions, they actually become a strong chemical.
These solutions typically require you to mix them with citric acid (such as lemon or lime juice). In some cases, the solution comes with a citric acid “activator."
When these solutions are mixed with acid, the mixture actually becomes chlorine dioxide, which is a powerful bleaching agent. People should not swallow these kinds of chemicals.
Despite the FDA issuing a warning back in 2010, these solutions are still being promoted online.
Companies are marketing these solutions as treatments for serious conditions. For example, Miracle Mineral Supplement claims to be an antimicrobial, antiviral and antibacterial liquid that can treat the following:
- Autism
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- Hepatitis
- Flu
However, these products have not been proven safe or effective in treating any type of illness, the FDA noted.
When swallowed, these chlorine dioxide products can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and severe dehydration. Some of these products indicate on their label that vomiting and diarrhea are common and are actually evidence that the solution is working.
The FDA stressed that this is not true.
If you have used this product and have experienced problems, speak with your health care professional. Also, consumers are encouraged to report adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.
Written by Anyssa Garza, PharmD, BCMAS
