Reumofan Plus Dietary Supplement Relabeled and Sold as “WOW”: Public Warning - Undeclared Drug Ingredients
Audience: Consumers, Healthcare Professionals
ISSUE: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning the public that the potentially harmful dietary supplement product Reumofan Plus is being relabeled and sold under the name “WOW.” The product is being marketed to treat arthritis, muscle pain, osteoporosis, bone cancer, and other conditions. FDA laboratory analysis confirmed that “WOW” contains the same prescription drug ingredients that are in Reumofan Plus, including dexamethasone (a corticosteroid), diclofenac sodium (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), and methocarbamol (a muscle relaxant). These ingredients have the potential to cause serious injury.
BACKGROUND: FDA warned the public of the harm of Reumofan Plus on June 1, 2012, and again on August 21, 2012. Since June, FDA has received dozens of adverse event reports, many of them serious, from consumers who used Reumofan Plus. The reports include liver injury, severe bleeding, corticosteroid withdrawal syndrome, adrenal suppression, stroke, and even death.
Reumofan Plus and “WOW” products are sold on various websites, including Gonepainfree.com and Browerent.com. The products are manufactured by Riger Naturals S.A. In addition to websites selling “WOW,” FDA has become aware that various websites, including Reumofanusa.com, owned by Reumofan USA, LLC, continue to sell Reumofan Plus even after previous FDA warnings. Please see the link to the FDA public warning for product photos.
RECOMMENDATION: Consumers currently taking or who have taken Reumofan Plus or “WOW” should immediately consult a health care professional. Health care professionals are urged to ask their patients about the use of Reumofan Plus, “WOW,” and other similar products marketed as dietary supplements when patients present with unexplained symptoms that suggest NSAID toxicity, psychiatric changes, or the use or abrupt discontinuation of corticosteroids.
Additionally, health care professionals should evaluate patients who have used Reumofan Plus and/or WOW for drug and disease interactions involving diclofenac, methocarbamol, and corticosteroids, and consider whether a corticosteroid taper regimen may be appropriate.
Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of Reumofan Plus products and “WOW” to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:
- Complete and submit the report Online: www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/index.cfm
- Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178.
[12/19/2012 - FDA Public Warning - FDA]
Previous Related Safety Alert:
[08/21/2012 - Reumofan Plus MedWatch Safety Alert - FDA]
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.