The Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today warned the public anew against glutathione drips and injectables, which are popular skin whitening treatments in the country. The FDA said they have classified glutathione as a drug, which means that it is necessary to secure a prescription first before undergoing such treatments.
In an interview on radio station DZMM, Katherine Lock, the officer-in-charge of the FDA’s Center for Drug Regulation and Research, said that glutathione is not registered as a whitening treatment and therefore could not be used for this purpose.
“This is a drug. That means it could only be used to treat a disease. The whitening effect is just a side effect of the drug,” she said.
“This should only be purchased if you are holding a prescription from a doctor. This should only be sold in licensed retail outlets, licensed drug stores.”
Injectable glutathione is approved as an adjunct treatment in cisplatin chemotherapy but they, along with “drips” administered intravenously, have become popular skin whitening treatments in the Philippines, where dark skin is typically perceived as unattractive. Such treatments are widely available in spas, salons, and even dermatological clinics.
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The FDA released an advisory on Friday warning against the side effects of using glutathione injectables and IV treatments for skin whitening, which they said could harm one’s liver, kidneys, and nervous system.
These skin lightening treatments could also lead to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, a serious disorder where blisters appear on the skin due to a reaction to certain medications. Because glutathione drips usually also contain vitamin C, using them could lead to the formation of kidney stones.
If the drip were administered by a non-medical practitioner or in an unsterile environment, patients could also possibly contract HIV, Hepatitis B, and C. The reduction of melanin could also lead to skin cancer.
Lock said that patients may not see the harmful effects of glutathione immediately but that these could appear after long-term use.
Many doctors who offer skin lightening treatments believe there is nothing wrong with using glutathione and even claim that it is good for one’s health. However, Lock disagrees with this.
“[T]his was registered with us as a drug to treat diseases and not as a whitening treatment. But now it’s being used for certain purposes which are not approved by the FDA,” she said.
The FDA already warned the public that glutathione injectables are illegal in 2011 and said that no medical studies have been done to prove that they are safe to use as whitening treatments.
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