The Department of Health (DOH) is warning the public against the use of glutathione for skin whitening amid the controversy involving Robin Padilla's wife, Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla, for having an intravenous (IV) drip session in the Senate office.
Citing FDA Circular No. 2019-182, the DOH clarified in a recent press release that there are no approved clinical trials or guidelines supporting the use of injectable glutathione for skin lightening purposes.
Officially, glutathione is only FDA-approved as a supplementary treatment in specific chemotherapy treatments, so its misuse for cosmetic reasons can pose significant health risks. Among the possible side effects include toxins to the liver, kidney, and nervous system.
In fact, the FDA has not approved any injectable products for skin lightening as per the DOH.
DOH's advisory comes in the wake of a post where Mariel was seen getting what appeared to be a drip session in her husband's Senate office on February 21. She wrote in her now-deleted Instagram post: “I had an appointment…but I was going to be late so I had it done in my husband’s office.”
She would later clarify that she was actually receiving a vitamin C drip, not Glutathione, “under the medical supervision of a professional nurse.” She expressed regret if her actions led to any misunderstandings or disruptions within the Senate's operations
“Having mentioned this, my intent was just to inspire others that even amidst various activities or whether they are, they can still prioritize their health by taking vitamins,” Mariel wrote in a Facebook post. “I want to extend my sincerest apologies to all concerned, including the members and staff of the Senate and the public. We uphold the Senate’s dignity and integrity.”
Lawyer Chel Diokno also chimed in to remind the public about a recent case of a 39-year-old woman who died following a IV glutathione and stem cell treatment on January 9.
He warned places like beauty salons, spas, and clinics that it is illegal to sell or use health products that haven't been officially approved by the FDA. Doing so breaks the law under Republic Act 9711.
At the end of the day, DOH said doctors have the authority to decide how to use these medications for their patients based on their professional judgment.
“Once the FDA has approved a prescription drug for entry into the Philippine market, neither the DOH itself nor the FDA can regulate the practice of doctors who will be prescribing those drugs for their patients. Physicians are authorized by their license to practice medicine granted by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC),” DOH said in the press release.
This story originally appeared on Spot.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
